(WBAP/KLIF) – The ACLU of Texas sent letters and Public Records Act requests this week to seven counties planning to enter into 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Rockwall County was included in the seven.
Under the 287(g) program, local law enforcement agencies dedicate resources to enforce immigration law. Participating counties will hold a person for customs if booking reveals they are in the country illegally. The program deals specifically with checking a persons immigration status once they are in jail, not before they are arrested, as the controversial Sanctuary Cities Law could imply.
“We almost never find out about someone that is illegal until they enter our jail and go through the booking process,” said Rockwall County Sheriff, Harold Eavenson.
The program has been criticized for using local resources, and encouraging constitutional violations and compromising public safety.
“President Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Governor Greg Abbott are trying to mislead Texas communities into surrendering their resources, time and personnel to the federal government,” said Astrid Dominguez, policy strategist for the ACLU of Texas. “As long as our local law enforcement officers are required to serve the racist and heavy-handed prerogatives of Trump’s deportation force, Texas communities will suffer.”
Sheriff Eavenson said it will make for a more precise process and will better serve his department and ICE.
The requests and letters were sent to the Sheriff’s in Burnet, Kendall, Nueces, Potter, Rockwall, Terrell and Williamson counties.
