An article from the Migration Policy Institute says new guidelines will instruct agencies participating in the 287 (g) program to focus on immigrants with criminal convictions rather than those just here illegally.
The 287 (g) program was created in 1996 to allow some local law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration law. While some agencies have only used their expanded po
wers under 287 (g) to find out the immigration status of convicted felons, others have used them in day to day interactions with the community, meaning people who come into contact with the police for offenses as minor as speeding tickets have been deported.
Police departments have also criticized the program for diverting resources away from more pressing public safety concerns and for damaging the relationship between the police and the community.
The face of the program has become Maricopa County Sherrif Joe Arpaio because of his aggressive enforcement of immigration law. The article says the Justice Department is
conducting an investigation of his department.
I think the new rules are both more sensible and more humane. It makes sense to go after the people who have been convicted of a felony before you go after the person who is just here trying to make a living. The new rules, if properly advertised, could help improve the relationship between undocumented immigrants and the police because people may be more willing to talk to the police knowing they won't be asked about their immigration status if they haven't done anything wrong.
These steps by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, along with reviewing workplace raids, should come as welcome signs that the new administration is serious about immigration reform. Even if President Obama can't convince Congress to agree on a complete overhaul of the system for several years, or ever, making changes within the current system is an improvement for the time being and a step in the right direction.
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