County should pull out of federal 287 (g) effort

I am asking [Washington County] Sheriff Helder to immediately end participation in 287g. My reasons are three-fold: financial, constitutional and community.

Financial: The taxpayers are billed when a sheriff participates in 287 (g). The taxpayers pay the salaries of the sheriff personnel. A county in Maryland is paying as much as $7.9 million per year for operating costs for 287 (g), according to Laura Munoz Lopez (May 8, Center for American Progress). Washington County is one of only two in Arkansas that participate. One reason given by Harris County, Texas, in ending 287 (g) was due to the extreme financial cost. Also, there is the possibility that a person detained illegally can sue the sheriff. As many as half of detainees have only a minor traffic violation or misdemeanor on record.

Constitutional: The sheriff’s office mission statement says, “We, the men and women of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the community, are dedicated to improving the quality of life by providing the highest level of service through education and open communication … We are guided by the principles of integrity, professionalism, respect, and fairness.”

As a public servant Helder is sworn to uphold the Constitution. Detaining immigrants without a warrant issued by a judge is in direct violation of that.

Community: Participation in 287 (g) causes a breach of communication between the sheriff office and the immigrant communities. As statistics and facts show, immigrant populations do adhere to the laws of the county they live in, contribute to the workforce at low-wage jobs, and contribute greatly to the cultural lives of all. They are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens! The immigrant population does not want destructive criminal behavior in their community or in anyone’s community. Law enforcement needs to build a healthy and trusting relationship with the communities they serve. The communities then are more likely to contact the sheriff office when there are crimes being committed in their community. Under 287 (g) the sheriff is doing just the opposite of protecting and serving all of those who reside in the county. The sheriff office is also violating most of the mission statement they have sworn to uphold: Integrity, open communication, respect, fairness.

Helder is not “catching criminals”, but rather tearing families apart due to minor misdemeanor offenses and in many cases illegal detaining of persons without a warrant. There is no reason Helder should continue participation with this costly program. It is costly in terms of finances and in terms of lives disrupted.

For these reasons I ask that Sheriff Helder discontinue participation in 287 (g) immediately. I ask that the good people of Washington County demand this also. We know our community overall supports a Welcoming City status and the mayor of Fayetteville has recently issued a statement against supporting 287 (g). Let us show support for our vibrant immigrant population by stopping the appalling discriminatory participation in 287 (g) today.

JANET L. GRAIGE

Fayetteville