DHS denies Virginia's request for 287(g) agreement
On Tuesday, Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has denied his request for the Virginia State Police to join the 287(g) program which trains local and state law enforcement to identify illegal aliens in custody for possible deportation.
Gov. McDonnell told reporters: "I'm incredibly disappointed with the Obama administration."
In August 2010, McDonnell asked DHS to allow 28 state troopers to receive the specified training in order to identify illegal aliens charged with serious crimes such as "major drug offenses or violent offenses such as murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, and kidnapping, as well as DUI offenses."
After nine months with no answer, the governor sent a letter to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, stating: “We have patiently waited nine months for formal approval and the time to act is now. Virginia meets all the qualifications and has proven to be an excellent partner state and I ask you to approve our application without further delay.”
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McDonnell continued: “We must retain the right to remove the most dangerous illegal aliens from our borders, and 287(g) agreements have been approved across the country for that purpose. Virginia must have the ability to exercise this authority statewide.”
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 allows DHS to grant state police forces the authority to perform some immigration enforcement functions such as deportations, if those states enter into a 287 (g) agreement with the federal government.
Of course, the Obama administration abruptly ended the federal government's 287(g) agreement with the state of Arizona after the Supreme Court upheld a key portion of the state's immigration law known as SB1070.
In recent months, several high-profile crimes have been committed in Virginia by illegal aliens:
http://www.examiner.com/article/dhs-denies-virginia-s-request-for-287-g-agreement?CID=examiner_alerts_article
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