Feds to cut off many immigration-related calls from Arizona law enforcement
Jun 25, 2012, 12:58 PM | Updated: 4:45 pm
In wake of the Supreme Court ruling on SB 1070, the
Department of Homeland Security announced that federal
authorities will decline many of the calls reporting
illegal immigrants that the department may get from
Arizona law enforcement.
Task force agreements 287(g) have been suspended between
the government and Arizona Department of Public Safety,
City of Mesa Police Department, Florence Police
Department, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Pinal County
Sheriff’s Office, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
and Phoenix Police Department.
The agreements granted some local law authorities to
enforce immigration laws.
Immigration Customs and Enforcements said that 287(g) Task
Force agreements aren’t helpful in “states that have
adopted immigration enforcement laws like SB1070.”
Homeland Security said it would continue to
“telephonically comply with its legal requirement to
verify an individual’s immigration status upon request.”
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer was disappointed but not
surprised by the announcement.
Brewer released a statement saying, “President Obama once
again abandons citizens of Arizona.”
“As though we needed any more evidence,
President Obama has demonstrated anew his utter disregard
for the safety and security of the Arizona people. Within
the last two hours, I have been notified the Obama
administration has revoked the 287(g) agreement under the
authority of which Arizona law enforcement officers have
partnered with the federal government in the enforcement
of immigration law.“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. The Obama
administration has fought the people of Arizona at every
turn – downplaying the threat that a porous border poses
to our citizens, filing suit in order to block our State
from protecting itself, unilaterally granting immunity to
tens of thousands of illegal aliens living in our midst,
and now this.”