Sheriff's office offers more info on 287g program

After reading the letter from Donnie Compton appearing in the June 10 Times-News  (State and feds work together to fund 287g program), I felt I should respond in order to expand on and perhaps clarify some issues.

The state funding for the program referenced by Mr. Compton was allocated just recently. In fact the North Carolina Sheriff's Association deserves much of the credit for requesting the funding, which is intended to assist smaller agencies in developing programs to address criminal illegal aliens. Many of these departments do not have sufficient staffing or budgets to allow for deputies to be assigned to training for nearly six weeks. This funding will allow these agencies to be trained in order to cooperate with other local, state and federal agencies in addressing illegal immigration. It should be noted, however, that these are not "unfunded mandates" as program participation is voluntary. Actually the vast majority of the program costs are funded by the federal authorities.

I confess that I do not understand one remark in Mr. Compton's letter  - that this funding pays to "publicize" the 287g program. Frequent media inquiries and routine news releases on program activities more than accomplish "publicity" issues.

I must also respectfully disagree with one closing statement in his letter, credited to Sen Hagan. That "287g would not be a reality without state leadership and state funding." Although it appears that our state is moving towards support of this program, it was successfully in operation in, as I recall, at least three counties and being actively reviewed in others prior to any state funding. I am fully in agreement that local, state and federal authorities are now coming together to cooperatively address illegal immigration, and especially those illegals who self identify by violating our laws.

One of the greatest obstacles encountered by the Alamance County Sheriff's Office in implementing the 287g program has been erroneous information often repeated by those opposed to the program. I have been amazed at some of the false assertions made regarding the program operation, at times by those who should know the truth. This misinformation has possibly been an issue affecting appropriations being approved sooner by our state legislature.

RANDY JONES
Graham

Randy Jones is public information
officer for the Alamance County Sheriff's Office.