Polis, Chu, Cárdenas Introduce Amendment to Defund Controversial 287(g) Program

Press Release

Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO), Judy Chu (D-CA) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) offered an amendment today to defund the controversial 287(g) program, made infamous by the abuses of power under Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County, Arizona. Despite bipartisan support, the amendment to H.R 2217, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act failed by a vote of 180 to 245. This amendment still marks an important turning point, with the vast majority of Democrats voting to defund 287(g), including members of Democratic leadership.

"By seeking to cut the funding for 287(g), a program that relies on racial profiling, we are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate any more Arpaios. Programs like 287(g) have created mistrust between Latino communities throughout the country and local law enforcement -- getting rid of 287(g) once and for all will begin to repair the trust that has been lost over the last decade and is a step forward in fixing our broken immigration system and restoring the rule of law."

"The 287(g) program diverts critical law enforcement resources away from stopping crime and focuses them on activities that breed mistrust in local police officers. Too often relying on racial stereotyping, this program alienates the very communities that authorities need cooperation from to catch violent criminals. The amendment we offered today would end funding for this misguided program, and ensure our law enforcement resources are being used effectively."

"This amendment tells Americans that we are not going to allow their taxpayer funds to be wasted , paying for local sheriffs to grandstand and become cult heroes of hate," said Cárdenas. "Programs like the one we would defund have helped build a wall of mistrust between victims and government agencies. Getting rid of this obsolete law will begin repairing trust that was lost over the last decade. It's a great a step forward in fixing our broken immigration system and restoring the rule of law."

The Polis-Chu-Cárdenas amendment would defund operations conducted under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This widely-criticized program allows the Department of Homeland Security to deputize state and local law enforcement officers to perform the functions of federal immigration officials.The House Appropriations Committee overfunded the 287(g) program in the FY2014 bill by more than $40 million. Moreover, the White House has threatened to veto the DHS Appropriations bill if this level of funding remains, because current immigration policies, including Secure Communities, have superseded this local and state deputizing. The Polis-Chu-Cárdenas amendment would defund the program, allocating 10% of the unallocated funding to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, with the remaining 90% going toward deficit reduction.

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