U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan addresses illegal immigration:
“The citizens of North Carolina pay federal taxes,” Hagan told a half-dozen sheriffs during a round-table in Raleigh. “Immigration is certainly a federal issues, and the federal government cannot be throwing another unfunded federal mandate down on us at the state level.”
The program is not mandated, but sheriffs departments that want to help manage illegal immigration in their communities can get training from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and adopt computer systems that help identify illegal immigrants being held in local jails.
…..But Hagan said that she would not encourage sheriffs to participate in the 287 (g) program if it costs counties money. And the state senator from Greensboro also said she thinks the county-by-county participation creates a patchwork solution, so she warmed to the idea of a more regional plan she said could be more effective and efficient.
Interesting that Hagan refers to the 287g program as an “unfunded mandate” when, correct me if I’m wrong, N.C counties appear very interested to sign on for the program. In fairness, expense is the main issue Forsyth County Sheriff Bill Schatzman cited when he resisted pressure from county commissioners to apply for the 287g program. As for a regional approach, that idea was recently floated by Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes, who now has a new $116 million jail of his own, courtesy of voters.
That said, I didn’t hear any specifics from Hagan on what exactly should be done about illegal immigration. This is the issue Elizabeth Dole will be running on, and I’ll concede she doesn’t have much else. But the it’s touching a nerve here in North Carolina, so Hagan needs to present some credible solutions.
