The Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano, released a statement on SB1070. The statement read:

“The Arizona immigration law will likely hinder federal law enforcement from carrying out its priorities of detaining and removing dangerous criminal aliens. With the strong support of state and local law enforcement, I vetoed several similar pieces of legislation as Governor of Arizona because they would have diverted critical law enforcement resources from the most serious threats to public safety and undermined the vital trust between local jurisdictions and the communities they serve. I support and am actively working with bipartisan members of Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level because this issue cannot be solved by a patchwork of inconsistent state laws.”

In some way it’s good that she spoke out against the measure, especially coming against the woman that followed her in running the state of Arizona. I am also sure that Napolitano’s calling for comprehensive immigration reform is something that the advocates can and should jump on. However, it seems that Napolitano is being a little untruthful about the role I.C.E has already been playing with 287(g) and other immigration enforcement measures that claim to be out looking for “dangerous” immigrants.

It could be argued, for example, that 287(g), which yes was started by Bush Jr. and was expanded under Obama, as it was implemented in Maricopa County under Sheriff Joe Arpaio, provided a framework for SB1070.

Then there is the not often discussed and misleadlingly named “Secure Communities” program, also started by Bush and expanded by Obama.
This week across the country there are a series of events focused on “Secure Communities”. Yesterday in New York City, in a statement released by a coalition of organizations, the link was made between Secure Communities, 287(g), and SB1070.

From that statement:

Unfortunately, Arizona is just one example of the toxic climate immigrants now encounter,” stated Angela Fernandez, Executive Director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “Secure Communities and other ICE programs like the Criminal Alien Program and 287(g) have cost us hundreds of millions of dollars while resulting in broken families, racial profiling, and compromised safety.”

But while Napolitano can talk about how bad SB1070 is, strictly from an enforcement perspective of course (because that’s what matters, verdad?), She has no problem pushing for the use of military drones on the U.S. border with Mexico, using the war on drugs as justification.

Via / AZ Central