Local law enforcement agencies are gearing up to increase their involvement in the controversial 287(g) program as President-elect Donald Trump’s administration plans for mass deportations. The program allows state and local officers to enforce federal immigration law, sparking potential legal battles. Trump’s “border czar,” Tom Homan, has promised to prioritize deportations and increase ICE’s authority. The 287(g) program, established under President Clinton, permits law enforcement to access ICE databases and detain suspects for up to 48 hours for potential deportation after a crime arrest.
Supporters of the program argue it targets individuals within jails, not on the streets, holding them accountable for immigration violations. Critics, including the ACLU, claim the program leads to racial profiling, fear in immigrant communities, and economic harm. Divisions regarding the program exist within ICE, with some questioning its efficiency in rural areas. However, some local officials, like Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler of Harford County, Maryland, believe in the program’s effectiveness in upholding immigration laws following high-profile incidents involving undocumented immigrants.
The political turmoil surrounding immigration enforcement is escalating, with Democrats in cities like Los Angeles and officials in Massachusetts vowing to resist federal immigration mandates. As inauguration day nears, the clash between local and federal authorities over immigration policies is expected to intensify. The Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations have prompted anticipation among law enforcement officers preparing for increased immigration enforcement efforts under the 287(g) program.
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