FrankRep
04-28-2010, 10:28 AM
Sheriff: immigration enforcement lowers crime in Tulsa County (http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Sheriff-immigration-enforcement-lowers-crime-in/FSSJlFgQGEyVHRL4rcF7Lg.cspx)
KJRH News
April 26, 2010
The Tulsa County jail isn't as crowded as it used to be, since a new program began two years ago. Sheriff's deputies are now helping immigration and customs agents enforce federal immigration laws.
By participating in what's called 287(g), the sheriff's office has received close to seven million dollars. At the same time, Sheriff Stanley Glanz reports that major crimes went down by 13% in 2009.
"We're taking someone who doesn't have the morals and values we want to see in our community and remove them from our community," said Glanz.
Anyone in the jail without documentation is turned over to the feds, who begin the deportation process. So far, deputies say they've identified close to 8,000 illegal aliens, mostly from Mexico. But that's not why leaders of the Hispanic community have a problem with 287(g).
"It was a great idea, (but) one that's being poorly implemented," said Marvin Lizama, president of the Coalition for the American Dream.
Lizama points to the Department of Homeland Security's recent performance review of 287(g). The inspector general's office makes 33 recommendations for improvement. The first addresses a lack of sufficient data collection. Based on sample arrests, the office concludes, "the results do not show resources have been focused on aliens who pose the greatest risk to the public."
"Most of the arrests that are occurring when it comes to the undocumented population are traffic related." says Lizama. He says it's an offense for which most people don't go to jail.
2NEWS asked what the 8,000 illegal aliens were arrested for, but were told by the sheriff's office that it doesn't track that information.
Despite reported problems, the sheriff is confident the program is doing what it was intended to do, by making communities safe.
SOURCE:
http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Sheriff-immigration-enforcement-lowers-crime-in/FSSJlFgQGEyVHRL4rcF7Lg.cspx
http://www.alipac.us/article5186.html
KJRH News
April 26, 2010
The Tulsa County jail isn't as crowded as it used to be, since a new program began two years ago. Sheriff's deputies are now helping immigration and customs agents enforce federal immigration laws.
By participating in what's called 287(g), the sheriff's office has received close to seven million dollars. At the same time, Sheriff Stanley Glanz reports that major crimes went down by 13% in 2009.
"We're taking someone who doesn't have the morals and values we want to see in our community and remove them from our community," said Glanz.
Anyone in the jail without documentation is turned over to the feds, who begin the deportation process. So far, deputies say they've identified close to 8,000 illegal aliens, mostly from Mexico. But that's not why leaders of the Hispanic community have a problem with 287(g).
"It was a great idea, (but) one that's being poorly implemented," said Marvin Lizama, president of the Coalition for the American Dream.
Lizama points to the Department of Homeland Security's recent performance review of 287(g). The inspector general's office makes 33 recommendations for improvement. The first addresses a lack of sufficient data collection. Based on sample arrests, the office concludes, "the results do not show resources have been focused on aliens who pose the greatest risk to the public."
"Most of the arrests that are occurring when it comes to the undocumented population are traffic related." says Lizama. He says it's an offense for which most people don't go to jail.
2NEWS asked what the 8,000 illegal aliens were arrested for, but were told by the sheriff's office that it doesn't track that information.
Despite reported problems, the sheriff is confident the program is doing what it was intended to do, by making communities safe.
SOURCE:
http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Sheriff-immigration-enforcement-lowers-crime-in/FSSJlFgQGEyVHRL4rcF7Lg.cspx
http://www.alipac.us/article5186.html