In a move aimed at enhancing collaboration with local law enforcement, the Trump administration has proposed lowering existing detention standards for immigrants detained in the U.S. According to Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, this initiative is designed to encourage more sheriffs to provide jail space for immigrants in the country illegally.
During an annual National Sheriffs’ Association meeting in Washington, D.C., Homan stated that the administration intends to allow sheriffs to detain migrants under their own state standards rather than the more stringent guidelines set by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Homan emphasized, “If that’s good enough for a U.S. citizen in your county, it’s good enough for an illegal immigrant detained for us.”
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigration has led to a significant increase in ICE arrests, with the agency reporting an uptick to approximately 900-1,200 daily arrests, compared to a mere average of 311 in the previous fiscal year. This includes operations in so-called “sanctuary” cities, which typically limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Currently, ICE is funded to detain around 41,500 immigrants but is operating with a population of about 40,000 detainees. In a bid to bolster its capacity, the administration announced plans to add 30,000 detention beds at a facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and additional beds at a military base in Aurora, Colorado.
Homan urged sheriffs to join the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to work closely with ICE, thereby increasing the effectiveness of immigration enforcement. “We need your bed space. We need your 287(g) agreements,” he stated, calling on sheriffs to act as a vital support system in the administration’s immigration crackdown.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of these changes on local communities and the broader immigration system remain to be seen.
This article is credited to Reuters and published by Newspot Nigeria.
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