And who better to provide you the story than my friend and fellow blogger at the Houston Press, Liana Lopez.
It only took 15 seconds for the Commissioners Court of Harris County to approve three additional years of participation in 287(g) after hours of public testimony, mostly in opposition, to the program.
Providing the lone NO vote, as well as pertinent questions regarding the issue was our own Commissioner Sylvia Garcia.
“I know what you all do now under the current agreement but this is if we do the second part of the intergovernmental agreement,” commissioner Sylvia Garcia said. “I’m concerned about…these additional responsibilities and…this court should be a part of that process in terms of determining costs.”
The budget request for the 287(g) program will cost Harris County taxpayers more than $2.5 million over the next three years for eight employees’ salaries and anticipated overhead.
Is it me, or were Latinos taking hits this week? We won’t ensure a child gets a top-notch education and opportunities to universities, but we’ll catch their tax-paying parents and destroy family units.
