Date: Sun, 22 May 2011 20:53:02 -0400
From: John Graybeal
Subject: So the Proposed ICE Resolution Has A Hidden Purpose After All?
Apparently responding to my earlier post, Donna Kelly (Republican Party research director?) emphasizes that the 2009 ICE resolution passed by the predecessor Board of Commissioners did not just
prohibit participation in the 287(g) program, it also prohibited any “local governmental agency contracting with [ICE] for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws.”
That reminds us that Chairman Bock was quoted in the local paper saying, as justification for the
currently proposed resolution, he did not want to “ti[e ] the hands of the Sheriff’s Office.” For these reasons, both of them defend the current resolution, which would rescind the 2009 resolution.
But, as has been pointed out, Chatham County is now participating in ICE’s Secure Communities Program. Pursuant to that, the Sheriff’s Office sends to ICE fingerprints of All persons arrested in Chatham County, no matter how low-level the violation. This is ICE’s “current” program and, until now, there’s been no suggestion that Chatham would do any more or other cooperating with ICE.
Are Ms. Kelly and Chairman Bock suggesting Chatham might do/should do more? If so, the “what more” should be described so that Chatham citizens could make meaningful comment.