Antone's Nightclub
Hamilton ICE Policy Doesn't Reflect Community
RECEIVED Tue., Feb. 28, 2012
Dear Editor,
Greg Hamilton, the present Travis County sheriff, is in a contested primary election. At meetings with voters, he has been asked why such a great number of undocumented immigrants with no criminal histories are being deported from Travis County. He claims that the Travis County Sheriff's Department is only following the law and does not control who is deported. Secure Communities is an information sharing idea implemented by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It has two parts; identifying a foreign national through computer databases and requesting that local law enforcement "hold" someone for ICE to arrive.
The sheriff is not obligated by law to “hold” anyone for ICE. His obligation is to deal with the infraction committed at the local level. Of course, we want dangerous felons to be retained and deported. Hamilton could choose to “hold” those who are charged or convicted of severe crimes and choose not to “hold” those who are in custody for misdemeanors or who have no criminal record at all. Many counties around the nation have chosen to limit their response to the ICE request. Greg Hamilton is not using the discretion he has. He is holding everyone identified by ICE. This harms community policing, costs taxpayers, and destroys families.
Greg Hamilton has been made aware of the distress and disruption this policy causes. Ever since 2008, there have been efforts by concerned citizens, immigration lawyers, community rights organizations to get him to change his policy. In spite of this, Hamilton continues with his policies.
Whoever wins the Democratic Primary for sheriff will be elected in November. I am concerned that the present Travis County sheriff is choosing to make policy which our progressive community does not support and which does not reflect our core values.
Greg Hamilton, the present Travis County sheriff, is in a contested primary election. At meetings with voters, he has been asked why such a great number of undocumented immigrants with no criminal histories are being deported from Travis County. He claims that the Travis County Sheriff's Department is only following the law and does not control who is deported. Secure Communities is an information sharing idea implemented by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It has two parts; identifying a foreign national through computer databases and requesting that local law enforcement "hold" someone for ICE to arrive.
The sheriff is not obligated by law to “hold” anyone for ICE. His obligation is to deal with the infraction committed at the local level. Of course, we want dangerous felons to be retained and deported. Hamilton could choose to “hold” those who are charged or convicted of severe crimes and choose not to “hold” those who are in custody for misdemeanors or who have no criminal record at all. Many counties around the nation have chosen to limit their response to the ICE request. Greg Hamilton is not using the discretion he has. He is holding everyone identified by ICE. This harms community policing, costs taxpayers, and destroys families.
Greg Hamilton has been made aware of the distress and disruption this policy causes. Ever since 2008, there have been efforts by concerned citizens, immigration lawyers, community rights organizations to get him to change his policy. In spite of this, Hamilton continues with his policies.
Whoever wins the Democratic Primary for sheriff will be elected in November. I am concerned that the present Travis County sheriff is choosing to make policy which our progressive community does not support and which does not reflect our core values.
Sue Roberts