August 21, 2007

ICE begins immigration cross-training for Collier County Sheriff's Deputies

NAPLES, Fla. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Collier County Sheriff's Office announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) allowing Collier County Sheriff's deputies to perform immigration law enforcement functions as permitted by Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). ICE also announced a new menu of services, ICE ACCESS, which outlines different ways local law enforcement agencies can partner with ICE to increase public safety.

Twenty-five deputies from the Collier County Sheriff's Office will add to the growing list of state and local agencies receiving immigration training and authority under the supervision of sworn ICE officers and agents. The cross-designation is a benefit to both ICE and local law enforcement agencies because it will save Collier County jail space, while helping to restore integrity to our nation's immigration system.

The 287 (g) training, which begins today, will provide deputies with an in-depth instruction on a variety of immigration enforcement topics, including immigration law, civil rights, and intercultural relations.

"Partnerships with our state and local law enforcement colleagues have always been essential to our fight against illegal immigration," said Michael Rozos, Florida field office director for the ICE Office of Detention and Removal.

"This progressive sheriff's office should be commended for its willingness and resolve to help ICE remove illegal aliens who could otherwise pose a threat to the security of our communities," said John Paxton, assistant special agent-in-charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Tampa.

"This partnership further strengthens our cooperation with ICE and our other federal partners," said Collier County Sheriff Don Hunter. "We believe that the expeditious removal of foreign nationals who are here illegally and are committing crimes will reduce the crime rate and thus the victimization of our residents and visitors and the tax burden on the community. We look forward to the continued success in our working with ICE."

The agreement will enable deputies to determine the immigration status of those encountered during the normal course of duties and to initiate removal proceedings for those found to be in the country illegally. It will also enable deputies to interview foreign national inmates in the county's correctional facilities to determine whether there is probable cause for an immigration violation. Under the program, the deputies will complete the processing of any criminal aliens and prepare documentation to place those aliens in deportation proceedings.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office is one of 26 law enforcement agencies nationally that have entered into 287 (g) agreements with ICE. ICE has trained 416 officers nationwide under the 287(g) program.

Two other 287 (g) training classes also began today in Tulsa, OK and Burlington, MA, which combined with the Collier class, will certify an additional 111 officers to enforce immigration law. More than 60 municipal, county, and state agencies nationwide have requested 287 (g) agreements with ICE.

The 287 (g) program is only one component under the ICE ACCESS (Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security) umbrella of services offered for assistance to local law enforcement officers. ICE ACCESS will provide local law enforcement agencies an opportunity to team with ICE to combat specific challenges in their communities.

Other ICE ACCESS enforcement options include the creation of local task forces targeting specific challenges like gangs or document fraud, the presence of a Criminal Alien Program (CAP) team in local detention facilities to identify criminal aliens, or training to utilize the ICE Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) which provides officers the ability to inquire about a person's immigration and criminal history.

ICE agents and officers will meet with agencies requesting ICE ACCESS assistance to assess local needs. Based upon these assessments, ICE and local agencies will determine which type of partnership is most beneficial and sustainable before entering into an official agreement.

Law enforcement agencies interested in reviewing the myriad of enforcement programs under the ICE ACCESS program are encouraged to call their local ICE office or visit www.ice.gov for more information.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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