N&R headline says “Top cops talk immigration at area forum.” Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes adequately explained his role in the modified 287 (g) program, while you have to wonder exactly why Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy was invited to the forum:
Bellamy, who was invited to speak at the event, said the police department has had no role in getting the program implemented here nor is the department involved in how the sheriff runs the jail.
“When we arrest someone, that means we have to take them to his jail” Bellamy said. “Whatever the sheriff decides to do with 287(g) is what his department wants.”
The police department has no policies on immigration enforcement, nor does it have any plans to get involved in a 287(g) program, he said.
“As of this time, we haven’t been approached by ICE or anyone else about getting on deputized on a federal level to be a part of 287(g).”
One speaker expressed concern that she and her daughter would be carjacked or shot and the only witness would be an illegal immigrant who wouldn’t come forward for fear of being detained and deported. That’s standard logic put forth by opponents of 287(g). Surely the speaker is also afraid of being shot or carjacked, period. But I guess that’s a topic for another forum where Chief Bellamy would have more say.
