Not all cities and counties in the U.S. are putting anti-immigrant measures into effect. Chatham County NC, which towns include Pittsboro and Siler City, home to the majority of North Carolina’s poultry processors, passed a resolution indicating strong opposition to any of its law enforcement agencies contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (ICE)

The program in question is called the 287(g) program. It authorizes ICE and local law enforcement agencies to enter into an agreement to provide local law enforcement officers with training so they could function under the supervision of sworn ICE officers.

Under the program, every person charged with a crime, whether it’s for driving without a license or murder, is asked certain questions to determine if they are legally within the United States. If a person is determined to be an illegal alien, then the person would be held for deportation.

Meanwhile, in Oregon:

Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Ted E. Grove today issued a preliminary injunction that will prevent an anti-immigrant ballot measure from taking effect on February 2.

The ACLU/NWJP challenge contends that Measure 1-590, which would fine employers for hiring or employing undocumented immigrants:

• Exceeds the powers of Columbia County as granted by the state of Oregon;
• Violates the Single Subject requirement of the Oregon Constitution; and
• Is preempted by existing state laws, as well as land-use statutes and regulations.

Measure 5-190 relies on E-Verify, a federal database designed to check employees’ names against Social Security records. That database has proven to be very flawed and ineffective. One transposed digit or misspelled name could flag longtime citizens as “illegal.”

Not surprisingly, anti-immigrant forces have come down heavy against the pro-immigrant moves, especially in the North Carolina case.

William Gheen, president and spokesman for Americans for Legal Immigration based in Raleigh, said Chatham County officials will regret their decision to not enter into a 287(g) program.

You can show your support for Chatham County by contacting them and showing your support for their decision in favor of human rights for all.

Chatham County, North Carolina
12 East Street
P.O. Box 1809
Pittsboro, NC 27312
TEL (919) 542-8200
FAX (919) 542-8272

http://www.chathamnc.org/

Commissioners:

George Lucier, Chair (District 3)
628 Redbud
Pittsboro NC 27312
919-542-4629
glucier@earthlink.net

Sally Kost, Vice Chair (District 1)
1101 New Hope Church Road
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 367-0727 (home)
(919) 696-7840 (cell)
SallyKost@gmail.com

Allen Michael “Mike” Cross (District 2)
388 Cross Point Road
P.O. Box 173
Moncure, NC 27559
(919) 774-3309
duckdogcross@aol.com

Carl E. Thompson, Commissioner (District 5)
67 Robert Thompson Road
Bear Creek, NC 27207
(919) 837-2407
cethompson@embarqmail.com

Tom Vanderbeck, Commissioner (District 4)
8180 Old Graham Road
Pittsboro, N.C. 27312
919-545-2160
Tom@Vanderbeck4chatham.org

Chatham County Sheriff Richard Webster said he’s not been interested in the ICE program, and he couldn’t get it even if he wanted to because Chatham County isn’t big enough for it. Also, the county doesn’t have enough room in its detention facilities to hold people for deportation, he said.

Here is his contact info:

Chatham County, North Carolina
Sheriff’s Office
295 West Street
P.O. Box 429
Pittsboro, NC 27312
TEL (919) 542-2811
FAX (919) 542-8272

To email Sheriff Webster
richard.webster@chathamsheriff.com

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