Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:49:52 -0500
From: “Richard D. Allen”
Subject: Re: 287(g) resolution
I’m a little hesitant to wade in on the issue because opinion in this area is so divided, but I don’t believe the prior board’s passage of a non-binding resolution opposing 287(g) should be characterized as encouraging illegal behavior.
Immigration law is enforced by federal authorities (ICE). 287(g) encourages local authorities to spend their money, time and effort enforcing federal laws that otherwise would never be their responsibility. There are a number of reasons why that might not be a good idea – first, it uses limited local resources; second, there’s
already evidence that 287(g) programs don’t work very well in practice. See:
Opposing the 287(g) program isn’t about encouraging illegal behavior. It’s at least partially about leaving immigration enforcement to trained professionals with the budget to pay for it (ICE), not local authorities. There are other legitimate reasons to oppose it, but I’ll stop there for now.
Opposing particular law enforcement activities doesn’t mean you support law-breaking.
Richard D. Allen
Durham, NC
(919) 886-5005
www.allenlawnc.com
Twitter:@allenlawnc