Gov. Brian Kemp’s administration is seeking federal approval for state Department of Public Safety officers to expand participation in a controversial program to allow them to perform some of the functions of federal immigration agents.
The governor said Monday the department’s 1,100 sworn officers would be trained under the program, known as 287(g), to “better assist in identifying and apprehending” people in the U.S. without permission who pose a public safety risk.
“If you are in our country illegally and committing crimes, you have no place in Georgia,” said Kemp, who called it a “common sense measure” that aligns with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdowns.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency would oversee the training under the proposed agreement announced by Kemp’s office. The Department of Public Safety includes Georgia State Patrol officers, Capitol Police and highway safety officers.
The Department of Public Safety already participates in a similar program that allows officers to enforce federal immigration laws in local jails and state prison systems.
The Trump administration is expected to rely on more assistance from local authorities as it aims to expand immigration enforcement and make good on campaign vows to launch the largest mass deportation in the nation’s history.
Supporters call it a “force multiplier” that helps deter uncontrolled immigration and saves money by deporting repeat offenders. Critics argue it’s discriminatory against racial and ethnic minorities, splits up families and discourages immigrant communities from reporting crimes.
“We are concerned about potential profiling and show-me-your-papers activities affecting hard-working immigrants who are no danger to anyone,” said Gigi Pedraza, executive director of the Atlanta-based Latino Community Fund.
“We all want secure and safe communities,” she said. “We disagree with Gov. Kemp on his decision. We also hope that the officers trained will indeed focus on individuals that are violent criminals.”
Authorized by Congress in 1996, the program deputizes state and local officials to help enforce federal immigration laws in local jails and state prison systems, giving them the authority to investigate, detain and transport people facing deportation.
During Trump’s first term, several sheriffs in Republican-led counties struck 287(g) agreements with the White House while other local officials distanced themselves from the program. In Gwinnett, Sheriff Keybo Taylor, a Democrat, ended the county’s participation on his first day in office.
Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
The Georgia Legislature passed a law last year mandating that sheriffs apply for 287(g) or other immigration enforcement partnerships or face criminal penalties, but participation has been inconsistent. At least five local sheriffs signed up earlier this year.
The agreements vary but commonly give jail employees access to federal databases to investigate the immigration status of inmates. Some allow deputies to issue detainers and charging documents for inmates suspected of being in the country without authorization.
For Kemp, the announcement is another way to prove his immigration credentials as a potential contender for U.S. Senate next year or the White House in 2028.
Since winning Georgia’s top office in 2018 on a pledge to “round up criminal illegals” in his dusty pickup truck, Kemp has echoed Trump and other national Republicans in pushing for tougher measures to curb illegal border crossings.
He’s deployed National Guard forces to the U.S.-Mexico border several times and signed legislation last year requiring sheriffs to coordinate with federal immigration officials when someone in custody is suspected of being in the country without permission.
And Kemp could soon weigh a measure that threatens local officials who resist enforcing Trump’s immigration policies with lawsuits. On Monday, he praised Trump as a president who “prioritizes keeping Americans safe by securing the border and cracking down on illegal immigration.”
Critics, meanwhile, said it would deepen fear in immigrant communities already on edge after Trump’s election. Azadeh Shahshahani, the legal and advocacy director for the social justice organization Project South, called it an “awful development with devastating impacts.”
”The 287(g) program is rife with abuse, racial profiling and human rights violations and has led to an atmosphere of terror among migrant communities,” said Shahshahani, who predicted it will “lead to less safe communities for us all.”
Staff writer Lautaro Grinspan contributed to this report.
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