Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel), who was recently named State Chairman of State Legislators for Legal Immigration, is hosting an interstate law enforcement conference regarding 287(g) funding on April 19, 2008. Ball is thrilled to announce that the list of participating organizations has increased. In addition to dozens of local law enforcement agencies, the 9/11 Families for a Secure America, a national homeland security organization, will be attending.
“Many Americans, even those who are immensely involved with and concerned about illegal alien crime against U.S. citizens, are unaware of 287(g). They do not know how it can greatly benefit our country and law enforcement professionals, or how it can counter the corrosive and dangerous effects of sanctuary cities for the estimated 10 million illegal aliens in our nation,” stated Ball. “I am thrilled that 9/11 Families has joined our long list of supporters and will be helping us spread the word about the importance of 287(g).”
“It is fair to say that Greg Ball is the only New York State elected official that has been willing to not only meet with organizations regarding homeland security, like 9/11 Families, but to understand what we are trying to do and help us accomplish that,” stated Ed Kowalski, the organization’s director. “We are very pleased to be part of this event. Illegal alien crime is a big issue and it is important that the public be informed about legislation that can help abate or alleviate this problem. 9/11 Families is extremely pleased and grateful for the work that Assemblyman Ball has put towards making New York State a safer place.”
9/11 Families for a Secure America is a national organization that works to promote a homeland security initiatives and stop illegal immigration. Started by families who lost loved ones on September 11, the founders, and their supporters, believe that the failure to keep out unauthorized aliens and the federal government’s failure to respond to intelligence information led directly to the 9/11 attacks and deaths of their loved ones. The organization is adamant that the federal government failed to live up to its most basic obligation to its citizens – to protect them from foreign attack.
Peter Gadiel, a founding member of 9/11 Families and its acting president said, “Hundreds of thousands of illegal alien criminals should not be exempt from being subject to our laws. They should not have the privilege of being immune from being questioned by state or local police. It is not like New York State doesn’t have a problem. In fact, 41 of 57 counties are already receiving reimbursements from SCAAP [(the United States Department of Justice’s State Criminal Alien Assistance Program)], which means they have a criminal illegal alien presence in their community. SCAAP is reactive. 287(g) is proactive.”
287(g) is a section of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act that was added to law by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Since September 30, 1996, 287(g) has been effective in authorizing the secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies that permit designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions. Simply stated, 287(g) provides the legal authority for state and local enforcement to investigate, detain, and arrest aliens on civil and criminal grounds.
However, most local law enforcement agencies simply do not have the funding to provide this training. Sadly, many law enforcement agencies are not even aware of this important training and public safety measure. This was the impetuous behind Ball’s 287(g) initiative – to help inform law enforcement agencies about the measure and ensure they get the training needed pursuant to a memorandum of agreement that states designated officers receive training and function under the supervision of sworn United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
This goal will come to fruition for many regional law enforcement agencies at Ball’s 287(g) Law Enforcement Summit, scheduled for April 19. Additionally, the summit will provide local, state and federal law enforcement agencies the opportunity to open lines of communication in order to curb illegal-alien crime.
Ball’s 287g Law Enforcement Summit will be co-hosted by Jim Pendergraph, ICE Executive Director from the DHS Office of State and Local Coordination. Before joining DHS, Pendergraph served over 30 years in law enforcement, and was the Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, NC, where he pioneered the successful use of 287(g). In fact, his leadership resulted in the first implementation 287(g) east of Arizona and made Mecklenburg County the only initial county in the United States who deployed it in a jail setting.
In addition to 9/11 Families for a Secure America, as well as agencies from across New York State and neighboring states, two local sheriff’s departments have also signed up to attend after personally meeting with Ball to discuss the importance of this initiative. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department will be attendance, joining Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois who is also confirmed to attend. Other invited guests include immigration expert Mike Cutler, legal immigration groups, such as Safe Driver’s Licenses, and members of Assemblyman Ball’s Task Force on Immigration.
9/11 Families Director Ed Kowalski continued, “We can not underscore enough how Assemblyman Ball has taken the lead. He was on the forefront of the drivers’ license issue and we are pleased to be working with him on the next step towards restoring the sanity in the New York State Assembly, who we hope will join us in realizing our goal to have 287g implemented on a statewide basis.”
For more information regarding this summit, please contact the Assemblyman’s district office at (845) 225-5038.