As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for office, his administration is laying plans for mass deportations, focusing on the controversial 287(g) program. This initiative, introduced under President Bill Clinton in 1996, allows local law enforcement to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), empowering officers to act on federal immigration laws within jails.
Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” has pledged to “secure this nation” and expand enforcement efforts before Inauguration Day. Supporters argue the program targets individuals already arrested for crimes, ensuring accountability for illegal immigration. Harford County, Maryland, Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, a vocal proponent, emphasizes that the program operates within detention centers, not on the streets.
The program gained attention in cases like the murder of Rachel Morin, allegedly committed by Victor Martinez Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant. Gahler and others believe such incidents underscore the importance of ICE partnerships. However, opponents, including the ACLU, argue the program fosters racial profiling, fear in immigrant communities, and diminished public safety.
Rural counties, like Rockingham in North Carolina, have adopted the program despite limited ICE detainer requests under President Joe Biden. Critics, including former ICE officials, question its efficiency in sparsely populated areas and its use as a political tool by conservative sheriffs.
Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups continue to oppose the program, with cities like Los Angeles passing ordinances to restrict local involvement in immigration enforcement. Officials in states like Massachusetts have vowed resistance, setting the stage for legal and political clashes.
Trump’s campaign promises to prioritize local cooperation with ICE. As Harford County corrections officers prepare for expanded enforcement, Sgt. Christopher Crespo predicts significant activity, framing the program as essential for public safety.
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