The group of Democrats said they would like to see DHS end the 287 (g) program, which enables DHS to enter into agreements with state and local police departments that allow officers to carry out the work of ICE agents do. The program existed before former President Donald Trump took office, but was expanded under his administration as part of an effort to enlist more help from local and state authorities to illegally expel more immigrants to the United States.
Lawmakers also called on the Biden government to end a program initiated by the George W. Bush administration that gives federal agents access to the fingerprints of individuals booked into jail by local and state authorities. The program, known as Secure Communities, was terminated in 2014 by former President Barack Obama, but was restarted by Trump via a 2017 executive order.
The group also called on DHS to end the use of ICE detainees – requests to local authorities for information or to detain an individual for up to 48 hours after their release, giving ICE extra time to deport. facilitated.
“We strongly urge you to end these programs and practices – and begin a new era of a more just and welcoming immigration system separated from local law firms,” the legislators wrote.
The letter was endorsed by several progressive groups and immigrant groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and United We Dream.
Naureen Shah, senior lawyer and policy adviser at the ACLU, said the problem with local police working with ICE is the fear it creates in migrating families, making them less likely to report crimes. “It also means that immigrant workers and their families are afraid of being tested, vaccinated and treated for Covid-19 for fear of local police,” Shah said.
So far, the Biden government has not publicly weighed how exactly the relationship between DHS and state and local law enforcers will navigate, although Mayorkas is expected to promote more self-control of the agency when it comes to detention and deportations. Biden, on his first day in office, announced a 100-day moratorium on most deportations, although the measure was temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
DHS also announced on Biden’s first day in office that it would begin reviewing immigration enforcement policies and practices. In a memo issued on January 20, then-acting DHS Art. David Pekoske said the department’s temporary immigration priorities protect national security, border security and public safety.
Some advocates of immigrants admit that they do not expect DHS to change its practice overnight, but the letter from Democrats is part of a larger increase in progressive groups, and immigrant advocacy groups will move Biden left on how his government ICE handle his work.
On the other side of Capitol Hill, Republicans have begun to criticize the Biden government’s immigration agenda. A group of 12 Senate Republicans, including Sen. John Thune (RS.D.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), on Thursday called on the Biden government to reconsider its immigration agenda given an increase in the number of illegal border crossings.