Reforms in 287(g) Program Underway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
May 20, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) released the following statement in response to a May 13, 2009 letter from the Department of Homeland Security responding to a Committee inquiry on possible reforms to the 287(g) program. The Department is in the process of implementing numerous changes to the program, including consultation with the Office of the Inspector General and expansion of the complaint process to include the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Links to appropriate correspondence are below.
GAO released a report in March entitled Immigration Enforcement: Better Controls Needed over Program Authorizing State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws (GAO-09-109), which highlighted various implementation and management problems with the current 287(g) program.
“The GAO report showed that in recent years, the 287(g) program, managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has grown in popularity and visibility. In the previous administration, ICE appeared more concerned with increasing the number of participating jurisdictions than it was with assuring that this program was consistently implemented,” Chairman Thompson stated.
“Following this Committee’s hearing on the 287(g) program, I wrote to ICE requesting administrative fixes that will provide an avenue of review for racial profiling complaints and assure that all state and local officials implementing this program are following the same rules.”
“I am gratified that ICE has agreed to make these changes. These measures will help make the 287(g) program more focused, effective, and responsive.”
# # #
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
