DosCentavos.net is elated that 287g, at least temporarily, may be dead in Houston. But it seems it is for all the wrong reasons.
DosCentavos was the only blog citing the costs of throwing this program into a tight budget while the Mayor and the others complained about the tight budget. Yet, it was still being supported. It was not until inauguration day that DC noticed a change toward something less costly.
Still, 287g is a bad program, proven ineffective, but still used as political cover by Democrats as a means of looking tough on immigration. As local pro-migrant leader puts it:
“This is what we have been fighting for,” said Maria Jimenez, a longtime Houston immigrant advocate. “But unfortunately they based the decision on the wrong reasons, because of budget shortfalls. For us, the main reason continues to be public safety and the trust that there should be between the police and the communities that they serve.”
And the Chron reminds us why this debate even occurred:
White had proposed last spring having the city participate in 287(g) after a Houston police officer was shot and critically injured by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record.
Here’s an even scarier thought:
Parker noted that in the long-term the city may be able to turn over its booking operations to Harris County if the two sides or voters approve funding for a new detention facility
Which is why more than ever we must oppose any new jails while there aren’t any changes in policy, or as long as the Obama Administration does nothing to stop enforcement-only tactics and the detention boondoggle that is costing Americans billions of dollars.
