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Top cops talk immigration at area forum

Thursday, April 2, 2009

(Updated 3:00 pm)

By Ryan Seals
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — Local law enforcement officials faced harsh questions Wednesday night about the impact a 287(g) immigration program could have on immigrants and overall public safety in Guilford County.

Sheriff BJ Barnes and Greensboro police Chief Tim Bellamy participated in a public discussion for 21/2 hours at the International Christian Church on South Elm-Eugene Street.

Nearly every seat was filled and a line went out the door. About 200 people attended.

Barnes is close to beginning a version of a 287(g) program here. He is waiting for clearance from federal authorities in Washington.

In essence, the program would allow suspects who are arrested to be checked against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement database to determine whether they are legal U.S. residents or authorized visitors when they are booked into the county jail..

If suspects are in the country illegally, they would be denied bond and housed at the county jail until the criminal case is resolved in local courts.

Then, the suspects would be turned over to federal immigration officials, who would hold them until a federal court date or until they are released on a promise to appear in federal court.

Barnes said the decision to join the 287(g) program was one of efficiency: The sheriff’s office can learn if suspects are undocumented in a matter of minutes, instead of days. If suspects are here illegally, Barnes said the program would move them into federal custody as quickly as possible.

“We are not going out and trying to do ICE’s job,” Barnes said. “We are not going out to find people who are here illegally.”

The public forum touched on many community concerns, including the decision to join the program, fear of racial profiling and overall equality, and fear that illegal immigrants would not report crimes if they are afraid of deportation.

Yamile Walker said she walked away feeling as if the sheriff is not listening to community concerns.

Walker also expressed concerns about safety, saying she and her 7-year-old daughter have to travel through a bad neighborhood to get home at night and she worries about what would happen if she was carjacked, shot at or worse and the only witness was an illegal resident.

“God forbid the only person who witnesses that is an undocumented immigrant who knows that individual in there (Barnes) is going to detain him, if he cannot prove his status for only coming forward to help me and my daughter,” Walker said.

She said she is concerned because domestic violence victims may not report crimes to police, if either person is here illegally. “Do you think she is going to call that man and his department?” Walker asked.

The Rev. Mark Sills, who runs the FaithAction International House and served on the discussion panel, said he has concerns about the safety of immigrants in the community if the 287(g) program is enforced.

“It’s going to create fear in all the immigrant and refugee communities and distrust in law enforcement,” Sills said. “That opens immigrants to being targets of criminals. It will do nothing to make our community safer. It will make it unsafer for everybody.”

Guilford’s proposed program would not be like full-blown versions of 287(g), like that is used in Alamance County, because local officials will not be equipped to house federal inmates for long periods of time, the sheriff’s office said.

“This county cannot do a full 287(g) program because we don’t have the resources or the space to be a detention center for ICE or anyone else,” Barnes said.

Barnes said the only time officers will ask about immigration status is when someone is arrested, or when officers are investigating a possible crime.

“My officers will only be checking on the status of anyone who has already been arrested for a crime,” the sheriff said. “If one of my officers sees you (in public), they are not going to come up to you and ask you what is your status?”

The sheriff said that only time his office would receive money from the 287(g) program is when there is a delay in handing inmates over to immigration officials. That money would be $50 per day, per inmate. He expects that the cost to implement and maintain the program would be minimal. He also said he would be open to a citizen committee to help oversee the program.

Bellamy, who was invited to speak at the event, said the police department has had no role in getting the program implemented here nor is the department involved in how the sheriff runs the jail.

“When we arrest someone, that means we have to take them to his jail” Bellamy said. “Whatever the sheriff decides to do with 287(g) is what his department wants.”

The police department has no policies on immigration enforcement, nor does it have any plans to get involved in a 287(g) program, he said.

“As of this time, we haven’t been approached by ICE or anyone else about getting on deputized on a federal level to be a part of 287(g).”

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Ryan Seals

Photo Caption: Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes (left) and Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy at Wednesday's forum.

What do you think?

18 comment(s)

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SteveV

April 2, 2009 - 2:35 am EDT

I wish this reporter would show a little more balance. The fact is most citizens support 287(g) and other immigration enforcement measures.

Look at the recent Rasmussen Reports polling that shows 73% of U.S. voters believe that a police officer should automatically check to see if someone is in this country legally when the officer pulls that person over for a traffic violation. And 68% of voters favor strict government sanctions on employers who hire illegal immigrants.

And if we enforce our immigration laws, this will free up jobs for unemployed Americans.

Please chief, implement the 287(g) program as soon as you are able! The citizenry supports this!!

posylady

April 2, 2009 - 9:10 am EDT

Lets look at this from a victims point. Have any of you or known anyone who has been rapped or murdered or victims of crimes by an illegal? Well millions in this country have. If you haven't been yet, Chances are you will be. When you go to court and all they do is send the illegal back to Mexico, so he can return with a new name and identity, You will see the since in this program. No one really knows who is here in this country. Our government don't care and obviously these people don't car. Maybe you all need to do some research on crimes commited by illegals in this country. Some are Horrific. They have no fear of our laws, our law enforcement are killed, shot at, beaten every day by illegals. The news media doesn't even mention they are illegals anymore as they are accepted as criminals. Go sit in court one day and watch what happens to illegals with no papers in our court sysyems. They are slapped on the wrist fined and let go. They don't have to show any real identification. If it was any citizen, we would be required to get an attorney, pay for classes, fingerprinted, have a record, we would also be guilty until proven innocent. What is so special about illegals they don't need to be identified and allowed to get government assistance. Wonder why our country is broke look up how much we spend on ullegals every year in this country, Cheap labor guess again! Hope you never get rear-ended by an illegal and watch them drive off, because they can> Wait till you get your insurance bill. Think it don't affect you wait and see.

palmer

April 2, 2009 - 9:05 am EDT

Steve V: Newspapers are not supposed to reflect public opinion. If it is true that 70% of people feel a certain way about an issue, that doesn't mean newspapers should make their coverage reflect that opinion. "Balanced" coverage means looking at an issue from many sides, even if some sides are less popular or less well known. The news should not be held captive to what the reporter or anyone else thinks. It should go beyond that. In an article like this about a policy and a forum held to discuss it, it is appropriate (and important) that reasons people give for not liking the policy be mentioned and explained. When I read the news, I'm not looking to see my point of view reinforced. I'm looking to understand what's going on, and that includes understanding how and why people see things differently than I do. That is one of the most important services a newspaper can provide to a community.

posylady

April 2, 2009 - 9:16 am EDT

Maybe so but they sure have their own opinions just like we do.
Its human nature!

chilandrina

April 2, 2009 - 1:02 pm EDT

posylady,

You are absolutely correct, we all have our opinions. You seem to have some very strong ones. You make some very serious allegations as well. I would appreciate it if you would share your sources of factual information or research that you studied in order to form those opinions and formulate the basis of your allegations.

SteveV

April 2, 2009 - 1:22 pm EDT

Palmer, you're actually making my point in a roundabout way. Reporters are supposed to report objectively, and provide proper balance and context, especially for controversial issues such as illegal immigration.This article does not -- and does not help form an adequate understanding of this issue (e.g., no mention of the negative impacts of illegal immigration on the state etc.) Typical sloppy MSM reporting.

JackBlack

April 2, 2009 - 1:28 pm EDT

To a certain extent you are correct in your observations palmer. But one key item that I'm reading between the lines on this story (and I shouldn't have to be reading between the lines, the reporter shouild be doing his job objectively) is that in this so called "public forum" none of the speakers/inquisitors (apart from the Sheriff) were from the immigration restrictionist ideological camp. And on whole, the N-R slant on immigration reporting is clearly biased towards the pro-immigration camp, but not quite as bad as the Raleigh N&O, the Charlotte Observer and the W-S Journal.
Also there appears to be a biased sleight of hand in punctuation with this: My officers will only be checking on the status of anyone who has already been arrested for a crime,” the sheriff said. “If one of my officers sees you (in public), they are not going to come up to you and ask you what is your status?” ---That was not a QUESTION, it was an ASSERTION on the part of Sheriff Barnes.

ryanshell

April 2, 2009 - 9:17 am EDT

I just did some quick research on the program and thought I'd share this link: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09109.pdf

Front page of the report to the US Government Accountability Office reads, "Better Controls Needed over Program
Authorizing State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws."

Just wanted to share so that you can get additional details.

Ryan
GreensboroPolitics.com

Alacam

April 2, 2009 - 10:15 am EDT

At the risk of appearing discriminating, it appears that Guilford Couty Sheriff Barnes is persuing a right and long lasting remedy for a growing problem. Afterall, citizens are required to demonstrate their citizenship in legal and business matters as well as law violations and criminal activities should not be exempted. It seems to me, if one has nothing to hide, then one has nothing to fear. Fear of right is not a covering for intended wrong.

ncsumd

April 2, 2009 - 10:47 am EDT

I like how some call this "racial profiling". These people are here illegally, and are a huge drain on our society!!! Not to mention the crimes they are involved in. I'm so glad Barnes is finally trying to do something about the problem. Heck, I say round them up and send them all back. The illegals, that is..

unbiased

April 2, 2009 - 11:01 am EDT

Yamile Walker and Rev. Sills reflect the ignorance, bias, or lack of critical thinking among those protesting 287(g). If an illegal immigrant is a victim or witness to a crime, they obviously are not going to be arrested. If they are not arrested, there is no way for the 287(g) program to go into effect with them. They should have no reason to not speak out. What these prptestors are doing is spreading fear and hysteria through their lack of understanding or flat out political agenda. Fear that WILL cause illegals to unnecessarily hide or be silent victims to street crime.

Clearly, 287(g) protestors don't have a clue to the overall cost to this country of crime, insurance and health care that illegals are causing. There is one simple solution to all of this, and it's not the 287(g) program. All they have to do is enter the country legally and obtain citizenship legally...just like every other country in the world requires.

duggieG

April 2, 2009 - 11:53 am EDT

What Sheriff Barnes is doing is long overdue, when any citizen is picked up for a crime, his or her name is usually run through a database to see if there are any outstanding warrants, now what makes it so wrong to check a database for illegals. Don't forget, these are not just ordinary times, there are still people out there who are trying to commit mass killings in this country. There is a drug war going on along our southern border, and Mexican drug gangs have affiliates in over 230 American cities who are more heavily armed than the local police. There are those who seem to care more for illegal aliens than they do for their own fellow citizens. Will they still feel this way when the violence hits their neighborhood, or a member of their family or church is cut down by senseless drug gang violence. Yes there are decent people who have entered this country illegally who are just looking for work, but there are decent young men and women who are born in this country who can no longer get a job
because the jobs are going to illegals, or their company has closed down and moved overseas. So our own young people turn to the sale of drugs to make a living, while people like Rev. Sill and Ms Walker turn a blind eye.
Now I would like for Rev. Sills to be fair and hold a meeting for those who support the Sheriff's effort to implement 287(g). Remember the Sheriff is not going around looking for people whom he might suspect to be illegal, he will simply check those caught breaking the law against the database. illegal immigrants, are not just Hispanics, they are also Asians, blacks and whites, so as a black American I say all this talk of racial profiling is baloney. Any citizen who is a victim of a violent act committed by an illegal alien who was in custody, and released to commit another crime because no one checked the data base, should sue that city or county.

kikablue

April 2, 2009 - 1:59 pm EDT

Yes there are people here illegally NOT only Mexicans, but from other countries also. I am so sick and tired of hearing if they were not here taking our jobs our young men and women would have a job, BULL S--T. If our young men and women wanted to work they would have taken the job to begin with. I hear it all the time them MEXICANS are taking our jobs, but ask one of our young men and women to work for minimum wage for 14-15 hrs a day. NO they want $10.-$15. dollars an hour. How many of our young men and women that these bad Mexicans are taking their jobs away from them would work in the blazing hot sun 10 plus hours a day for minimum wage. How many N O N E that's how many. I agree we need stricter laws but not only for the illegals but for our people born here as well There are a lot on AMERICANS that are committing crimes. It was not a MEXICAN that killed all those people in that nursing home, people it was ONE OF OUR OWN AMERICANS born right here in the United States. I'm sorry to say but most, of the most violent and horrific crimes committed here in the United States,are committed by White Americans. By the way before you say yeah that's a Mexican. No I'm a White American Woman and proud of it, but I'm not a racist or a bigot.

ncsumd

April 2, 2009 - 2:06 pm EDT

kikablue,

So you are ok with illegals being here? By being here illegally, they are breaking the law.How is that right?? Are you ok with your tax dollars going to support them? Are you ok with them in our schools hindering the education of our children??
I do realize that Americans commit many crimes, but you are naive to think that illegals aren't a big part of that problem in this country.
I guess I'm a racist because I don't want anyone in this country illegally, and I don't want to support them. Hey, if they want to legally become citizens that's fine by me!!

unbiased

April 2, 2009 - 2:10 pm EDT

So kikablue, because there are messed up white US citizens that commit crimes (like there always have been) we should be willing to take on the added crime and drug related activity that illegals bring with them? Yeah...that makes a lot of sense. It's got nothing to do with bigotry and everything to do with common sense. Educate yourself today and read up online about what's been happening in Phoenix and Atlanta over the last year or so. It's disturbing, and It SHOULD open your eyes if you choose to know the facts.

chilandrina

April 2, 2009 - 4:06 pm EDT

What I am getting out of your comment is not that it is OK for someone to be in this country illegally, rather I am hearing you say that we need to quit trying to blame someone else for our problems.

Are we really that blind to our own short falls and weaknesses that we are going to blame issues like unemployment, poor eduaction, drug addiction, gangs and drain of social services and rising health care costs just to name a few on the number of illegals in this country.

I have witnessed first hand legal American citizens passing up the opportunity to have a job that paid $15 an hour because the work was too hard or they didn't want to work the required schedule. I have witnessed first hand teachers that are so pathetic and lacking in training and common sense that they could barely teach a room full of straight A students, much less anyone that might need extra help. NEWSFLASH!!!! The drug trade works on supply and demand. Common sense tells a person that the drugs and dealers are coming here because there are people here who buy them. Are we going to blame the dealers for our addictions? Obesity and cigarette smoking are two of the biggest contributing factors to health problems in this country. Rise in disease eqauls rise in health costs. I would welcome the statisics showing the shortfalls in health care that illegals are causing in relation to our inabilty to control our weight and stop smoking cigarettes. I have been told by by the Department of Social Services that services such as food stamps and medicaid are only available to legal citizens with valid social security numbers. In my mind I can see how the system could still be abused in a number of ways, but who is really to blame for the abuse? People who try to abuse it or people who allow the abuse to take place?

I am not trying to say that illegal aliens are free from any responsiblity, however I do not believe that they are to blame either. We can change the laws and we can overhaul the policies, but that will never change the way people are indoctrinated to think. And having said that, I'm not really sure that the issue of immigration will ever be resolved.

short

April 3, 2009 - 9:13 am EDT

ok I agree 100%. You guys are always talking about how Mexicans are so bad. But if you guys really look at the real world it's all the white and black Americans that are really ommitting a crime here. Like kikablue said that Mexicans come here and work and that's all they are here for. They aren't here to hurt anyone they are just trying to make money. All the Americans here don't want the job that Mexicans will do for min. wage. And if the Americans do get a job they lazy out and quit. And I am saying this myself because I work in HR department. Everyone is always talking about how bad Mexican people really are and not realizing that it's our own kind doing all the killing, robbing, basically all the crimes. When have we heard in the news that a Mexican has committed a crime. I mean if they are committing a crime for being here in th US then we all are committing a crime because we as Americans entered this country illegally as well. You people did to do research about who really is committing a crime. And no I am not a Mexican I am an American that cares.

LadyM

April 9, 2009 - 9:07 am EDT

What most of the bleeding heart liberals don't understand or won't acknowledge is the fact that under the 287g program, witnesses to crimes are not in danger of being deported. The only time deportation is an issue is if the illegal is arrested and ends up in jail. That is when the 287g program kicks in.

Just look at Prince William to see that just knowing that they have this program crime has dropped and the criminal illegal's are moving to counties that don't use this program. The pro open borders agenda is to kill 287g because they know it works.

And yes, every poll that has been taken supports the use of the 287g program in local communities by at least 70% of the citizens.

Join www.numbersusa.com and help fight the next amnesty that is being introduced in the Senate.