ICE Out of Cecil

rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/ice-out-of-cecil?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-ice-out-of-cecil' style='width: 100%'></div> ICE out of Cecil https://actionnetwork.org/groups/cecil-solidarity ICE Out of Cecil https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg Today in America there are over 3,100 counties, and less than 10% of them participate in a problematic immigration policy known as a 287g agreement. For those of you reading the term “287g agreement” for the first time, let us explain. 287g is a section of the Immigration and Naturalization Act and its purpose is to allow local law enforcement to act as ICE officers in our community. Under 287g local law enforcement has the authority to interrogate detainees, issue detainers, transport detainees for deportation, and perform many other functions that should be reserved for federal agencies. Cecil County is one of the newest county in Maryland to sign up for a 287g agreement. The advocates of 287g will typically push this policy under a premise of “public safety”. Unfortunately, the data is in sharp contrast to that premise. A 2018 study of the undocumented population found that: 61% were less likely to report a crime that they witnessed 41% were less likely to report being a victim of a crime Those numbers show us that 287g makes us all less safe in Cecil. Criminals thrive in communities where people are afraid to report them. Not only is 287g making our community less safe by discouraging people from reporting crimes, but it will also cost the county quite a bit of money. Pursuant to the agreement Cecil County made with ICE, the taxpayers of Cecil are responsible to pay for: officer training, travel to training, lodging while training, cable and power upgrades to run 287g software, and even an office for ICE if they require it. Not only that, Cecil takes on all liability for this program. Frederick County is currently being sued by someone as a result of 287g and that settlement is going to come out of the county coffers instead of ICE. ICE operates with a budget of over $8 billion, we hardly need to subsidize them with what little budget we have in Cecil. Finally, this program does not represent the values we should be pursuing in Cecil. As our county continues to grow and thrive, we should strive to create a welcoming community that opens its arms to all people that want to join us and contribute to our prosperity! Terminating the 287g agreement would be a great step toward that goal. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ice-out-of-cecil