Obama Admin Expands Law Enforcement Program 287(g), Criticized for Targeting Immigrants and Increasing Racial Profiling

287 G agreements have been widely criticized for increasing racial profiling and singling out immigrants for arrest without suspicion of crime. In Napolitano’s home state of Arizona, particularly under Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the 287 G program is plagued by serious reports of abuse.

The Obama administration also decided to expand and strengthen implementation of other controversial programs like E-Verify and Secure Communties. E-Verify is an electronic system that checks people’s eligibility to work and Secure Communities brings ICE agents into local jails to identify and deport undocumented prisoners.

Well, here in New York, a coalition of immigration activists are gathering outside the Council on Foreign Relations today where Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is giving a speech about terrorism. The activists are protesting Napolitano’s expansion of immigration enforcement programs and calling for an end to abuses by ICE.

For more I’m joined now by two guests here in the firehouse studio. Aarti Shahani is the lead author of “Local Democracy on ICE,” a report on the 287 G program by the non-partisan criminal justice institute Justice Strategies. She is also a co-founder of Families for Freedom.

Roberto Lovato is contributing Associate Editor with New America Media, and a frequent contributor to The Nation and the Huffington Post. He was previously the Executive Director of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), then the country’s largest immigrant rights organization. He blogs at Of America.

Aarti Shahani, lead author of “Local Democracy on ICE,” a report on the 287(g) program by the nonpartisan criminal justice institute Justice Strategies. She is also a co-founder of Families for Freedom.

Roberto Lovato, contributing associate editor with New America Media and a frequent contributor to The Nation and the Huffington Post. He was previously the executive director of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), then the country’s largest immigrant rights organization. He blogs at Of America.

Related Links

• Justice Strategies' Report "Local Democracy on ICE"