Sheriff joins forces with ICE

Hamilton County joins federal program to combat criminal illegal immigrants

By GREGG MONTGOMERY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Hamilton County has joined a federal program that gives deputies the ability to identify and remove illegal immigrants who are criminals, the sheriff said Monday afternoon.

The federal Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996 allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specific functions as immigration officers. Two versions of the Section 287(g) program exists, and it was not immediately known which version Hamilton County was joining. The sheriff says ICE will be training deputies to ID people posing threats to public safety and act swiftly to protect the community.

As of December, ICE reported Section 287(g) agreements for jail enforcement with 60 law enforcement agencies in 16 states, and for warrant service officers with 75 law enforcement agencies in 11 states. No Indiana agencies had Section 287(g) programs.

Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush issued a news release Monday afternoon about joining the federal program. The release said the Republican sheriff appointed Chief Deputy John Lowes to lead a new Immigration Commission as part of the “groundbreaking initiative.”

Quakenbush said in a statement in the release, “Our top priority is the safety and security of Hamilton County. By joining the 287(g) program, we gain critical resources and authority to tackle the serious issue of criminal illegal aliens. With Chief Deputy Lowes’ proven leadership, this commission will operate with the utmost efficiency, integrity, and transparency.”

Lowes said in a statement in the release that the partnership with ICE will “address criminal activities linked to illegal immigration and foster a safer environment for Hamilton County residents.”

The sheriff’s release says the Immigration Commission will collaborate with federal agencies to ensure strict compliance with immigration laws; streamline processes for identifying and removing individuals involved in criminal activities; and engage with the community to build trust, understanding, and transparency around immigration enforcement efforts.

The American Immigration Council noted, in a report issued Jan. 20, that Section 287(g) programs across the nation have resulted in widespread racial profiling; led to immigration arrests of people with minor criminal histories; threatened community safety and hinder community policing; and increased law enforcement expenses for localities. The American Immigration Council report also says ICE has failed to provide sufficient training or supervision to local police agencies in Section 287(g) programs.

In Monday’s release from Hamilton County, Quakenbush wrote that the Section 287(g) program will respect diversity: “We celebrate diversity and the contributions of legal immigration, but we will not tolerate those who break the law and jeopardize the safety of our neighborhoods. This initiative reinforces our commitment to ensuring all residents – regardless of background – can live in a secure and thriving community.”

Police in some of Indiana’s major cities have voiced opposition to enforcing federal immigration laws since President Donald Trump took office Jan. 20. Trump has taken numerous steps regarding immigration during his first week in office.

Chief Chris Bailey of Indianapolis said Friday on social media, “Local law enforcement, including the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), does not have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws. IMPD has not been asked to take part in immigration sweeps, nor do we have any intention of doing so – that is not our role.”

Bailey also said officers don’t ask about a person’s immigration status during routine investigations as part of its goals to foster positive police-community partnerships and ensure the safety of people in Indianapolis.

Also on Friday, the leader of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, Rick Snyder, issued a similar statement: “Officers have strong concerns about illegal entry into our country especially as it relates to violent criminals, drugs and human trafficking that are ravaging our communities. However, enforcement of federal laws must be enforced by federal officers/agents and federal courts not local/state police and courts. As steps are taken by federal authorities, clear constitutional delineations must be maintained.”

Editor’s note: A bill is currently in the Indiana House that, if passed, would require that, “in the event that law enforcement officer arrests an individual for a felony or a misdemeanor and has probable cause to believe that the individual is not lawfully present in the United States, that the officer’s law enforcement agency shall notify the county sheriff of the probable cause during the individual’s intake process. Provides that a law enforcement officer shall arrest an individual in lieu of issuing a summons for a misdemeanor if the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the individual in not lawfully present in the United States. Requires the county sheriff to notify the proper authority. Provides that a law enforcement agency, including a county sheriff, or a law enforcement officer or other employee of a law enforcement agency is immune from civil liability if there is reasonable belief that the notification requirements under this statute have been fulfilled.”

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/hamilton-county-indiana-federal-immigration-program