Local Law Enforcement to Act as Immigration Agents

Morristown, NJ - As if relationships between immigrant communities and law enforcement agencies in New Jersey weren’t tenuous enough, Mayor Donald Cresiteillo, of Morristown NJ, decides to initiate the town participation into an INA § 287 (g) federal program. Federal programs, authorized by INA § 287 (g), deputize local law enforcement agents and allow them to act as agents for the Immigration and Custom Enforcement Agencies. Police officers are required to attend forty (40) hours of training before being deputized. This program allows local law enforcement to arrest, detain and initiate deportation proceedings against immigrants linked to serious crimes. Immigration lawyers and community advocates are afraid that this program will lead to racial profiling and abuses by the police. Immigrants, in general, are afraid to report crimes and come forward as witnesses because of possible collateral immigration consequences. Federal programs under INA § 287 (g) widen the gap and reinforce the feeling of fear and distrust between local communities and law enforcement. Source:Morristown to deputizing police officers to act as immigration agents by Tanya Drobness/Star Ledger