Local communities across the country are taking advantage of a federal program, called 287(g), to train law enforcement officers in illegal immigration enforcement techniques. And it's working. These newly trained police officers are shutting down illegal alien crime and helping to deport illegal alien criminals out of the country.
What is the Obama administration's response to the success of this program? Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano decided to implement "reforms" to weaken it as part of her comprehensive "review" of all border security policies. Judicial Watch, of course, wants to know everything about how and why this incomprehensible decision was made, which is why we filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week.
Here's what we're after:
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The new standardized Memorandum of Agreement used to enter into 287(g) partnerships, as announced by Secretary Napolitano on July 10, 2009, as well as any documents containing information on the development of the agreement;
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All new 287(g) agreements entered into with law enforcement agencies;
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All documents concerning the decision to standardize the Memorandum of Agreement and/or create new 287(g) agreements;
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Media and congressional notification plans concerning 287(g);
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And all email correspondence concerning the new 287(g) agreement between Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Border Security "Czar" Alan Bersin, and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Munoz, among other government officials.
We filed our original FOIA request on July 20. The DHS acknowledged receipt of the request on July 30 and then granted itself extra time to process it. (We see this quite a bit with our FOIA requests -- the federal government simply ignores the statutory 20-day response window and allocates more time for processing.) However, DHS has not abided by its own extended deadline and has not provided Judicial Watch with a date certain when it will provide responsive documents or demonstrate that responsive records are exempt from production.
As you may recall from previous installments in this space, law enforcement officers have indicated that 287(g) has helped them to significantly reduce crime rates. And, thanks to Judicial Watch's public education efforts highlighting the program, at least 67 local law enforcement agencies currently take advantage of 287(g), up from 27 in 2006.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the program has identified more than 70,000 individuals suspected of being in the country illegally since January 2006. Let me give you one example:
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In Alabama, through 287(g), troopers identified and arrested, among others, a Laotian citizen determined to be a registered sex offender and a previously deported Mexican citizen who was originally convicted of drug trafficking. If not for 287(g), this is the type of illegal alien criminal who might still be walking the streets. (Click here to read more of these success stories.)
However, despite the fact that 287(g) is clearly working, the Obama administration seems intent on undermining the program. Arizona's Maricopa County Sherriff Joe Arpaio is a particular target of this "reform." Because of his successful and comprehensive implementation of 287 (g), "America's Toughest Sherriff" has been the target of attacks by the usual pro-illegal alien suspects, such as the ACLU and so-called Hispanic rights groups. Leftists in the Obama Justice Department also initiated a "civil rights" investigation that seems like straight-up intimidation and harassment.
The vast majority of Americans want federal immigration laws enforced. Local law enforcement officers can contribute to this process and they have every legal right to do so. You can be sure that 287(g) is under attack because Obama appointees have an "amnesty" agenda at odds with enforcing the law. No wonder we've had such a difficult time getting these documents.
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