South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson sent a letter today to the state’s 46 sheriffs encouraging them to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to perform some immigration enforcement efforts in their counties.
“Over the last few years, the United States has witnessed an unprecedented and disastrous influx of illegal immigration. This has led to a serious strain on federal and state resources, while also permitting the permeation of crime throughout our communities,” Wilson wrote.
The letter encourages the state’s sheriffs to apply for ICE’s Section 287(g) program. A voluntary partnership between ICE and state and local officials authorizes designated officers to perform limited immigration enforcement functions within their jurisdictions.
The program allows sheriff’s departments to tailor their participation to one of three levels based on their department’s capabilities and resources.
“As the chief prosecutor of South Carolina, I share the same sentiment as you about keeping our citizens and communities safe,” Wilson wrote. “This is an utmost priority, and we are called to faithfully uphold the laws and Constitutions of this State and the United States.
He says the 287(g) program has become almost useless over the last few years because of bureaucratic red tape, but after talking to senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security, he’s confident it will be overhauled to make it more user-friendly.
“It will enable immigration enforcement to effectively resume and ensure that South Carolina will be safe from criminal illegal aliens. For your reference, South Carolina currently has three counties that have already enrolled in the program. This is a good start, and I strongly encourage your participation for the safety of South Carolinians,” he added.
Be the first to comment