Post by admin on Jul 11, 2007 5:16:26 GMT -5
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Sheriff hopefuls differ over immigration program
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 07/11/07
BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU
A candidate for Monmouth County sheriff wants to have jail corrections officers deputized as federal immigration agents, enrolling them in a controversial program that would allow them to check the immigration status of prisoners.
But an opposing candidate said the program has hidden expenses and is being falsely billed as a comprehensive way to make communities safer.
The federal program gives local police officers the authority to check immigration statuses along with the power to bring civil immigration charges that are handled in federal court.
Republican Kimberly Guadagno is facing off in the November election against Democrat Jack Hill for a three-year term as sheriff to replace Republican Joseph W. Oxley, who is not seeking re-election. A third candidate, Patricia Hopkins, who is running as an independent, could not be reached for comment.
The program has its critics.
The American Friends Service Committee in Newark "believes it is not a good plan," said Amy Gottlieb, director of the group's Immigrant Rights Program. Gottlieb said turning over immigration authority and arresting power to local officers "sets up situations where profiling and mistakes could occur, and the consequences for families in the community could be dire."
Guadagno said the recent arrests of six foreign-born men on charges of plotting an attack on the Fort Dix Army base prompted her proposal.
"A majority of those involved in the Fort Dix case had frequent run-ins with the law. Had this program been in place, the Duka brothers may have been transferred to federal custody, or even deported, well before the Fort Dix plot evolved," Guadagno said.
Hill said the program has expenses "in the time commitment you need in sending officers to training, and there are likely restrictions they'll have to follow as well."
Hill added, "I think it's irresponsible to throw out political statements and say it's a plan. I think the county Sheriff's Department has a number of things to look at to keep our towns safe, such as gangs, violence in the schools, narcotics. I have no opposition to what (Guadagno) is proposing if it's thoroughly researched."
Hill said the Sheriff's Department under the current Republican administration "has to do a real examination of how we're handling illegal immigrants now. The problems are not with the corrections officers. It's the management and leadership that has gone awry."
He said he was referring to a recent charge by a United Nations independent observer that he was denied access to the county jail for information to be included in a report on human rights violations in specific countries.
Bob Jordan: (732) 308-7755 or bjordan@app.com
Sheriff hopefuls differ over immigration program
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 07/11/07
BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU
A candidate for Monmouth County sheriff wants to have jail corrections officers deputized as federal immigration agents, enrolling them in a controversial program that would allow them to check the immigration status of prisoners.
But an opposing candidate said the program has hidden expenses and is being falsely billed as a comprehensive way to make communities safer.
The federal program gives local police officers the authority to check immigration statuses along with the power to bring civil immigration charges that are handled in federal court.
Republican Kimberly Guadagno is facing off in the November election against Democrat Jack Hill for a three-year term as sheriff to replace Republican Joseph W. Oxley, who is not seeking re-election. A third candidate, Patricia Hopkins, who is running as an independent, could not be reached for comment.
The program has its critics.
The American Friends Service Committee in Newark "believes it is not a good plan," said Amy Gottlieb, director of the group's Immigrant Rights Program. Gottlieb said turning over immigration authority and arresting power to local officers "sets up situations where profiling and mistakes could occur, and the consequences for families in the community could be dire."
Guadagno said the recent arrests of six foreign-born men on charges of plotting an attack on the Fort Dix Army base prompted her proposal.
"A majority of those involved in the Fort Dix case had frequent run-ins with the law. Had this program been in place, the Duka brothers may have been transferred to federal custody, or even deported, well before the Fort Dix plot evolved," Guadagno said.
Hill said the program has expenses "in the time commitment you need in sending officers to training, and there are likely restrictions they'll have to follow as well."
Hill added, "I think it's irresponsible to throw out political statements and say it's a plan. I think the county Sheriff's Department has a number of things to look at to keep our towns safe, such as gangs, violence in the schools, narcotics. I have no opposition to what (Guadagno) is proposing if it's thoroughly researched."
Hill said the Sheriff's Department under the current Republican administration "has to do a real examination of how we're handling illegal immigrants now. The problems are not with the corrections officers. It's the management and leadership that has gone awry."
He said he was referring to a recent charge by a United Nations independent observer that he was denied access to the county jail for information to be included in a report on human rights violations in specific countries.
Bob Jordan: (732) 308-7755 or bjordan@app.com