GSN_Mar_YUMPU

objectives of the program, and did
not provide sufficient oversight.
In light of these concerns, and
with the rise of the Secure Communities
program, the Obama administration
eventually drew down the
287(g) program. With Secure Communities,
ICE could share information
with local enforcement without
the hassles of directly supervising
local cops.
Now the Trump administration
wants to re-boot 287(g) program.
However, it’s unclear whether Congress
will fund an expanded program.
The upcoming appropriations
season is likely to include a battle
over funding for the program.
While some locals may be open to
the revival of 287(g) program, many
other local jurisdictions are limiting
their cooperation and have restricted
compliance with the federal government’s
immigration detainers.
Therefore, these places are unlikely
to enter into formal agreements of
this kind.
The 287(g) program has a long and
troubled history. States and localities
should take a good, hard look
at its track record before making a
decision to restart this program that
could have a harmful impact on
their communities.
Trump’s immigration remarks
packed with inaccurate statements
Continued from page 21
priorities recognized that there is a
finite budget available for immigration
enforcement, thus making prioritization
important. The approach
now being pursued by the Trump
Administration casts a very wide net
and will result in an aggressive and
unforgiving approach to immigration
enforcement moving forward.
4. Trump believes a merit-based
immigration system will improve
the economy.
The idea of a merit-based system is
not new but it usually has been discussed
as one piece to updating our
immigration system, not the only
piece as discussed in this speech.
At its core, the allocation of points
is not a neutral act, but instead reflects
a political view regarding the
“desired immigrant.” Since the enactment
of the Immigration and
Nationality Act in 1965, legal immigration
to the United States has
been based primarily on the family
ties or the work skills of prospective
immigrants.
The contributions of family-based
immigrants to the U.S. economy, local
communities, and the national
fabric are many. They account for
a significant portion of domestic
27
economic growth, contribute to the
well-being of the current and future
labor force, play a key role in business
development and community
improvement, and are among the
most upwardly mobile segments of
the labor force. And if cutting family-based
immigration becomes part
of a trade-off for a merit-based system,
we would be turning our back
on a centuries’ old tradition of family
members already in the United
States supporting newcomer relatives
by helping them get on their
feet and facilitating their integration.
5. Trump attempted to make the
link between immigrants and
crime through his newly created
office of Victims Of Immigration
Crime Engagement (VOICE).
Despite the implications of this
new office at DHS which seeks to demonize
all immigrants, immigrants
are actually less likely to commit serious
crimes or be behind bars than
the native-born. Additionally, high
rates of immigration are associated
with lower rates of violent crime
and property crime. This holds true
for both legal immigrants and the
unauthorized, regardless of their
country of origin or level of education.