Latest news with #287(g
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
ICE recruitment targets Florida cops, creates tension with police chiefs, sheriffs
The Trump administration's efforts to entice cops in Florida into becoming federal immigration agents is sparking complaints from police chiefs and sheriffs, who believe the effort undermines their partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to an email obtained by the Miami Herald. 'It's incredibly disappointing and reflects the inability of our federal partners to understand the concerns of local law enforcement agency heads that literally have committed 10% or more of their assets to help federal agencies with their primary mission despite staffing concerns, pay inequities that cannot begin to compete with federal funding,' Jennifer Cook Pritt, executive director of the Florida Police Chiefs' Association, said in an email to ICE on July 30. Gov. Ron DeSantis has also publicly echoed the concerns, hinting at a conflict between his administration and the federal government. 'I think we want to continue doing what we're doing, but, you know, sheriffs losing deputies who are in this fight to just go to a different, wear a different jersey, basically, but still be in the fight, that doesn't necessarily add to what we're doing,' DeSantis said in a press conference last week. DeSantis has pushed for local and state law enforcement officers to join the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign. Hundreds of law enforcement officials have signed up to perform some of the duties of federal immigration agents as part of their regular responsibilities in a program known as 287(g). In an ICE recruitment email reviewed by the Herald from ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, which targeted officers participating in the 287(g) program, the agency promised a $50,000 sign-on bonus paid out over five years, $10,000 each anniversary, to deportation officers and criminal investigators. 'This is more than a job; it's a continuation of your service to our country,' the email said. In the press conference, DeSantis said he understood the frustration from law enforcement officials. 'I know some sheriffs have concerns about that happening,' the governor said. 'It's like, hey, we've been doing all this stuff to help you guys and now you're trying to poach our people who are already in the fight.' DeSantis said the 287(g) program, which his administration pushed Florida law enforcement agencies to join, has been a 'huge benefit' to ICE, and targeting these police officers amounts to just moving people around. 'Why don't you bring new people in to supplement the mission going forward? So I understand the concern,' he said. The 287(g) program allows state and local enforcement to partner with ICE in performing limited immigration enforcement activities, such as identifying undocumented immigrants. Under the Trump administration, the program has become a critical avenue for boosting mass deportation targets. An ICE spokesperson, in an email statement, confirmed to the Herald that local police who have joined the 287(g) program will continue to be targets of recruitment efforts. 'ICE is recruiting law enforcement, veterans and other patriots who want to serve their country and help remove gang members, child pedophiles, murderers, terrorists and drug traffickers ' the statement said. 'This includes local law enforcement, veterans, and our 287(g) partners who have already been trained and have valuable law enforcement experience.' The Florida Police Chiefs Association declined to comment for this story, and the Florida Sheriffs Association did not respond to requests for comment. After recently getting an additional $75 billion in funding from Congress, ICE has amplified its recruitment efforts, flooding social media sites with posters promising recruits benefits such as student loan repayment, the $50,000 signing bonus, and a six-figure yearly salary. 'America Needs You,' the new recruiting website says, with a poster of Uncle Sam. In an interview Wednesday on Fox News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the agency had received over 80,000 applications for 10,000 open positions. Noem added the agency is lifting any age limit on who can apply to become an ICE officer. Previously, applicants had to be 21 years old or no more than 40 years old. Noem, in the interview, said applicants can now be as young as 18. Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
New immigrant detention partnership nicknamed after iconic Indiana racetrack inspires backlash
Top Trump administration officials boast that a new state partnership to expand immigrant detention in Indiana will be the next so-called 'Alligator Alcatraz.' However, the agreement is already prompting backlash in the Midwest state, starting with its splashy 'Speedway Slammer' moniker. Here's a closer look at the agreement, the pushback and Indiana's role in the Trump agenda to aggressively detain and deport people who are in the country illegally. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem trumpeted the deal late Tuesday, saying Indiana would add 1,000 detention beds for immigrants facing deportation under a revived federal program. On social media, DHS also posted an altered image of a race car emblazoned with 'ICE,' short for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The IndyCar-style vehicle is shown rolling past a barbed-wire prison wall. 'If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Indiana's Speedway Slammer,' Noem said, likening it to the controversial facility built in the Florida Everglades. She added that the new partnership will 'help remove the worst of the worst out of our country.' However, the Indiana deal doesn't involve construction. Federal funds will be used for space at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, roughly 75 miles north of Indianapolis. The prison's total capacity is 3,100 beds, of which 1,200 are not filled, according to Indiana Department of Correction spokeswoman Annie Goeller. Officials did not say when the detentions would start. 'Details about the partnership and how IDOC can best support those efforts are being determined,' Geoller said. The deal is part of the decades-old 287(g) program, which Trump has revived and expanded. It delegates immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement agencies. Immigrants, attorneys and advocates have raised a number of concerns about the program, including a lack of oversight. The Florida detention facility has prompted lawsuits and complaints about poor conditions and violations of detainees' rights. Authorities have disputed the claims. Republican Gov. Mike Braun first announced the federal partnership on Friday. 'Indiana is not a safe haven for illegal immigration,' he said. 'Indiana will fully partner with federal immigration authorities as they enforce the most fundamental laws of our country.' The outlandish name quickly drew backlash, notably from the town of Speedway, an Indianapolis suburb which is home to the iconic racetrack that hosts the Indianapolis 500. 'This designation was developed and released independently by the federal agency, without the Town's involvement or prior notice regarding the use of the name 'Speedway,'' officials from the Indiana town of roughly 14,000 said in a statement. 'Our primary focus remains the well-being of our residents, businesses, and visitors.' IndyCar officials were also caught off guard. 'We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of announcement,' IndyCar said, asking that its intellectual property 'not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.' The altered image used by DHS featured an IndyCar with the No. 5, the same number as the only Mexican driver in the series. 'I was just a little bit shocked at the coincidences of that and, you know, of what it means,' IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward said Wednesday. 'I don't think it made a lot of people proud, to say the least.' President Trump's border top border policy advisor Tom Homan said Wednesday that he didn't name the facility. 'But I'll say this, the work of ICE, the men and women of ICE, are trying to do their job with integrity and honor,' he told reporters at the White House. 'I don't want these names to detract from that.' Leaders in the Trump administration have already singled out Indiana as key to their immigration agenda. Braun, a first-term governor and former U.S. senator, has been a strong Trump supporter. In January, Braun signed an executive order directing law enforcement agencies to 'fully cooperate' on immigration enforcement. The nation's newest immigration court opened in Indianapolis earlier this year as a way to address the backlog and divert cases from the busy courthouse in Chicago. Federal and state leaders are also working on plans to use a central Indiana military base, Camp Atterbury, to temporarily house detainees. 'Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states,' Braun said in a statement Tuesday. Tareen writes for the Associated Press. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Immigrant detention partnership nicknamed after the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway inspires backlash
Top Trump administration officials boast that a new state partnership to expand immigrant detention in Indiana will be the next so-called ' Alligator Alcatraz.' However, the agreement is already prompting backlash in the Midwest state, starting with its splashy 'Speedway Slammer' moniker. Here's a closer look at the agreement, the pushback and Indiana's role in the Trump agenda to aggressively detain and deport people in the country illegally. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem trumpeted the deal late Tuesday, saying Indiana would add 1,000 detention beds for immigrants facing deportation under a revived federal program. On social media, DHS also posted an altered image of a race car emblazoned with 'ICE,' short for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The IndyCar-style vehicle is shown rolling past a barbed-wire prison wall. 'If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Indiana's Speedway Slammer,' Noem said, likening it to the controversial facility built in the Florida Everglades. She added the new partnership will 'help remove the worst of the worst out of our country.' However, the Indiana deal doesn't involve construction. Federal funds will be used for space at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, roughly 75 miles north of Indianapolis. The prison's total capacity is 3,100 beds, of which 1,200 are not filled, according to Indiana Department of Correction spokeswoman Annie Goeller. Officials did not say when the detentions would start. 'Details about the partnership and how IDOC can best support those efforts are being determined,' Geoller said. The deal is part of the decades-old 287(g) program, which Trump has revived and expanded. It delegates immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement agencies. Immigrants, attorneys and advocates have raised a number of concerns about the program, including a lack of oversight. The Florida detention facility has prompted lawsuits and complaints about poor conditions and violations of detainees' rights. Authorities have disputed the claims. Republican Gov. Mike Braun first announced the federal partnership on Friday. 'Indiana is not a safe haven for illegal immigration,' he said. 'Indiana will fully partner with federal immigration authorities as they enforce the most fundamental laws of our country.' The outlandish name quickly drew backlash, notably from the town of Speedway, an Indianapolis suburb which is home to the iconic racetrack that hosts the Indianapolis 500. 'This designation was developed and released independently by the federal agency, without the Town's involvement or prior notice regarding the use of the name 'Speedway,' ' officials with the Indiana town of roughly 14,000 said in a statement. 'Our primary focus remains the well-being of our residents, businesses, and visitors.' IndyCar officials were also caught off guard. 'We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of announcement,' IndyCar said, asking that its intellectual property 'not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.' The altered image used by DHS featured an IndyCar with the No. 5, the same number as the only Mexican driver in the series. 'I was just a little bit shocked at the coincidences of that and, you know, of what it means,' IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward said Wednesday. 'I don't think it made a lot of people proud, to say the least.' President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday that he didn't name the facility. 'But I'll say this, the work of ICE, the men and women of ICE, are trying to do their job with integrity and honor,' he told reporters at the White House. 'I don't want these names to detract from that.' Leaders in the Trump administration have already singled out Indiana as key to their immigration agenda. Braun, a first-term governor and former U.S. senator, has been a strong Trump supporter. In January, Braun signed an executive order directing law enforcement agencies to 'fully cooperate' on immigration enforcement. The nation's newest immigration court opened in Indianapolis earlier this year as a way to address the backlog and divert cases from the busy courthouse in Chicago. Federal and state leaders are also working on plans to use a central Indiana military base, Camp Atterbury, to temporarily house detainees. 'Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states,' Braun said in a statement Tuesday.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
A new immigrant detention partnership nicknamed after Indiana's iconic racetrack inspires backlash
Top Trump administration officials boast that a new state partnership to expand immigrant detention in Indiana will be the next so-called ' Alligator Alcatraz.' However, the agreement is already prompting backlash in the Midwest state, starting with its splashy 'Speedway Slammer' moniker. Here's a closer look at the agreement, the pushback and Indiana's role in the Trump agenda to aggressively detain and deport people in the country illegally. More beds, not new construction Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem trumpeted the deal late Tuesday, saying Indiana would add 1,000 detention beds for immigrants facing deportation under a revived federal program. On social media, DHS also posted an altered image of a race car emblazoned with 'ICE,' short for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The IndyCar-style vehicle is shown rolling past a barbed-wire prison wall. 'If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Indiana's Speedway Slammer,' Noem said, likening it to the controversial facility built in the Florida Everglades. She added the new partnership will 'help remove the worst of the worst out of our country.' However, the Indiana deal doesn't involve construction. Federal funds will be used for space at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, roughly 75 miles (120.7 kilometers) north of Indianapolis. The prison's total capacity is 3,100 beds, of which 1,200 are not filled, according to Indiana Department of Correction spokeswoman Annie Goeller. Officials did not say when the detentions would start. 'Details about the partnership and how IDOC can best support those efforts are being determined,' Geoller said. The deal is part of the decades-old 287(g) program, which Trump has revived and expanded. It delegates immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement agencies. Immigrants, attorneys and advocates have raised a number of concerns about the program, including a lack of oversight. The Florida detention facility has prompted lawsuits and complaints about poor conditions and violations of detainees' rights. Authorities have disputed the claims. 'Indiana is not a safe haven for illegal immigration," he said. "Indiana will fully partner with federal immigration authorities as they enforce the most fundamental laws of our country.' Pushback to a borrowed name The outlandish name quickly drew backlash, notably from the town of Speedway, an Indianapolis suburb which is home to the iconic racetrack that hosts the Indianapolis 500. 'This designation was developed and released independently by the federal agency, without the Town's involvement or prior notice regarding the use of the name 'Speedway,' ' officials with the Indiana town of roughly 14,000 said in a statement. 'Our primary focus remains the well-being of our residents, businesses, and visitors.' IndyCar officials were also caught off guard. 'We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of announcement,' IndyCar said, asking that its intellectual property 'not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.' The altered image used by DHS featured an IndyCar with the No. 5, the same number as the only Mexican driver in the series. 'I was just a little bit shocked at the coincidences of that and, you know, of what it means,' IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward said Wednesday. 'I don't think it made a lot of people proud, to say the least.' President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday that he didn't name the facility. 'But I'll say this, the work of ICE, the men and women of ICE, are trying to do their job with integrity and honor,' he told reporters at the White House. 'I don't want these names to detract from that.' Indiana embraces immigration enforcement Leaders in the Trump administration have already singled out Indiana as key to their immigration agenda. Braun, a first-term governor and former U.S. senator, has been a strong Trump supporter. In January, Braun signed an executive order directing law enforcement agencies to 'fully cooperate' on immigration enforcement. The nation's newest immigration court opened in Indianapolis earlier this year as a way to address the backlog and divert cases from the busy courthouse in Chicago. Federal and state leaders are also working on plans to use a central Indiana military base, Camp Atterbury, to temporarily house detainees. 'Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states,' Braun said in a statement Tuesday.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
A new immigrant detention partnership nicknamed after Indiana's iconic racetrack inspires backlash
Top Trump administration officials boast that a new state partnership to expand immigrant detention in Indiana will be the next so-called ' Alligator Alcatraz.' However, the agreement is already prompting backlash in the Midwest state, starting with its splashy 'Speedway Slammer' moniker. Here's a closer look at the agreement, the pushback and Indiana's role in the Trump agenda to aggressively detain and deport people in the country illegally. More beds, not new construction Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem trumpeted the deal late Tuesday, saying Indiana would add 1,000 detention beds for immigrants facing deportation under a revived federal program. On social media, DHS also posted an altered image of a race car emblazoned with 'ICE,' short for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The IndyCar-style vehicle is shown rolling past a barbed-wire prison wall. 'If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Indiana's Speedway Slammer,' Noem said, likening it to the controversial facility built in the Florida Everglades. She added the new partnership will 'help remove the worst of the worst out of our country.' However, the Indiana deal doesn't involve construction. Federal funds will be used for space at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, roughly 75 miles (120.7 kilometers) north of Indianapolis. The prison's total capacity is 3,100 beds, of which 1,200 are not filled, according to Indiana Department of Correction spokeswoman Annie Goeller. Officials did not say when the detentions would start. 'Details about the partnership and how IDOC can best support those efforts are being determined,' Geoller said. The deal is part of the decades-old 287(g) program, which Trump has revived and expanded. It delegates immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement agencies. Immigrants, attorneys and advocates have raised a number of concerns about the program, including a lack of oversight. The Florida detention facility has prompted lawsuits and complaints about poor conditions and violations of detainees' rights. Authorities have disputed the claims. Republican Gov. Mike Braun first announced the federal partnership on Friday. 'Indiana is not a safe haven for illegal immigration,' he said. 'Indiana will fully partner with federal immigration authorities as they enforce the most fundamental laws of our country.' Pushback to a borrowed name The outlandish name quickly drew backlash, notably from the town of Speedway, an Indianapolis suburb which is home to the iconic racetrack that hosts the Indianapolis 500. 'This designation was developed and released independently by the federal agency, without the Town's involvement or prior notice regarding the use of the name 'Speedway,' ' officials with the Indiana town of roughly 14,000 said in a statement. 'Our primary focus remains the well-being of our residents, businesses, and visitors.' IndyCar officials were also caught off guard. 'We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of announcement,' IndyCar said, asking that its intellectual property 'not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.' The altered image used by DHS featured an IndyCar with the No. 5, the same number as the only Mexican driver in the series. 'I was just a little bit shocked at the coincidences of that and, you know, of what it means,' IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward said Wednesday. 'I don't think it made a lot of people proud, to say the least.' President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday that he didn't name the facility. 'But I'll say this, the work of ICE, the men and women of ICE, are trying to do their job with integrity and honor,' he told reporters at the White House. 'I don't want these names to detract from that.' Indiana embraces immigration enforcement Leaders in the Trump administration have already singled out Indiana as key to their immigration agenda. Braun, a first-term governor and former U.S. senator, has been a strong Trump supporter. In January, Braun signed an executive order directing law enforcement agencies to 'fully cooperate' on immigration enforcement. The nation's newest immigration court opened in Indianapolis earlier this year as a way to address the backlog and divert cases from the busy courthouse in Chicago. Federal and state leaders are also working on plans to use a central Indiana military base, Camp Atterbury, to temporarily house detainees. 'Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states,' Braun said in a statement Tuesday. ___ Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
