May 30, 2007

Colorado State Patrol officers complete immigration enforcement training
Officers score highest cumulative GPA of 287(g) training class

DENVER - Twenty-two Colorado State Patrol officers have completed a rigorous five-week training course enabling them to do limited immigration law enforcement while supervised by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

As part of the curriculum, the officers of the newly formed Immigration Enforcement Unit (IEU) received in-depth instruction on a variety of immigration enforcement topics, including immigration law, civil rights, and intercultural relations.

The CSP officers achieved a cumulative grade point average of 94.14, the highest ever for a 287(g) training class. The CSP IEU will officially begin operations on July 1, 2007.

"The 287(g) program allows the enhancement of the existing strong relationship between ICE and CSP," said Jeffrey Copp, special agent in charge for ICE's Office of Investigation in Denver. "This authority will allow the agencies to work side-by-side to remove aliens whose criminal trails track through Colorado and endanger our communities. "The Colorado State Patrol and the members selected to be a part of this unit are excited about the opportunity to be a part of the 287(g) program," said CSP Captain Jon Barba, who is heading up the IEU for the Patrol. "We are looking forward to fostering our partnership with ICE throughout the state."

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between ICE and CSP enables IEU officers, under ICE supervision, to identify and remove aliens involved in criminal activity.

The CSP joins 19 other law enforcement agencies nationwide that have active MOAs with ICE.

To date, ICE has trained more than 300 officers nationwide under the 287(g) program. More than 40 municipal, county, and state agencies nationwide have requested 287(g) authority and training from ICE.

-- 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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