Monterey County joins ICE program to identify illegal immigrant inmates

The Salinas Californian reports that Monterey County Jail has joined ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in implementing a biometric system, which will help identify the immigration status of new inmates.

The jail will take fingerprints and send the prints to a Department of Homeland Security database. If the print indicates that someone in the database is not in an acceptable immigration status, the inmate will face deportation. Across the country, 144 jurisdictions in 18 states have implemented this program, and it is set to go nationwide by 2013. If someone is identified as an illegal immigrant, ICE will only take them into custody and start deportation procedures after the local judicial process is complete

http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20100407/NEWS01/4070308/1002/Monterey-County-joins-ICEprogram-to-identify-illegal-immigrant-inmates

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Report criticizes 287(g) program

The Frederick News-Post reports that a report from the DHS’ Office of the Inspector General has criticized an immigration enforcement program that allows state and local police to enforce aspects of immigration law.

The program, known as 287(g), entails ICE officials and Local law enforcement working together, expanding ICE’s capacity to arrest, jail, and deport illegal immigrants.

The report found that in the 66 districts that use the program, terms of the program were not being followed, ICE had not provided adequate oversight to local enforcement, and questions concerning the use of data collected and potential civil rights violations therein have not be addressed adequately. Citing the report, the ACLU has called for an end to the program.

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=103480

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Immigration Raid Targets Vast Network

The Wall Street Journal reports that more than 800 federal agents took part in a large raid, across multiple states that dismantled a loosely connected network of human smugglers.

Authorities arrested 47 alleged leaders of the human-trafficking ring, working out of shuttle-bus operations and over 50 separate safe houses, where immigrants were held by the smugglers.

The operation was called “In Plain Sight” and involved close coordination between ICE officials, Mexican authorities, the FBI, and local authorities. ICE chief John Morton claimed, following the raids, “We have dealt a severe blow to an alien-smuggling industry…There is no part of the chain left intact.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304510004575186341802033952.html

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ARIZONA’S NEW IMMIGRATION LAW

Last week, following approval in the State House and State Senate of Arizona, the Governor signed the controversial bill SB1070 which controversially makes it a state crime for an immigrant to not have their documents proving legal status on them at all times and also permits police officers to demand documents from any person an officer “reasonably” suspects of being an illegally present immigrant. The bill has provoked heated opposition, and already faces multiple law suits. In our next issue of Siskind’s Immigration Bulletin, we will be devoting an entire section to coverage of the bill and the controversy it has sparked.

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