Community groups call for an end to local police role in immigration enforcement

A coalition of immigrant rights groups is calling for an end to a federal program that allows state and local police to enforce immigration law.  The advocacy campaign Reform Immigration for America says that the program known as 287g is counterproductive and dangerous for local communities. The campaign is made up of 800 groups from across the country.

Crystal Williams is Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She spoke to reporters Wednesday on a teleconference.

"When check points are keeping people from going to church or going to the grocery store or going to school, something is wrong. When scarce law enforcement resources are being used on pretext to arrest Latino-looking people to explore their immigration status, something is wrong. We need enforcement but we need smart enforcement."

The call from immigrant rights groups follows a report released last week by the Department of Homeland Security's office of the inspector general that found the 287g program does not provide proper training and adequate oversight of enforcement officials. In January ICE called the program a "successful and popular partnership." Last week’s Inspector General report offered 33 recommendations to improve the program, but groups are going even further calling the flaws fundamental and pushing for  termination of the program altogether. They want resources shifted toward improving what they call a "broken" immigration policy.

Pablo Alvarado is executive director of the National Day Labor Organizing Network, that represents 41 community groups in 14 states

"These programs make our neighborhoods less safe because when police officers are seen as ICE agents, immigrants are less likely to report crimes and serve as witnesses. These programs imperil the civil rights for non-white members of our communities and they do essentially nothing to repair our unjust immigration system."

Advocates say momentum is growing around the issue.

Eliseo Medina, vice president with the Service Employees International Union, referred to the march on Washington last month, in which an estimated 200,000 people converged in the nation's capital to call for immigration reform.

Medina said the Latino and immigrant vote could be a decisive factor in this year's elections as voters will be watching the debate over immigration.