NCLR Commends Congressional Hispanic Caucus for Calling for an End to 287(g) Agreements

NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, today praised the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) for calling for the immediate termination of the 287(g) program. Yesterday, the CHC sent a letter to President Obama asking him to terminate the agreements with local law enforcement agencies that allow them to enforce complex immigration laws known as 287(g) agreements.Many government and academic reports, as well as pending lawsuits, document that the 287(g) program results in racial profiling, with local law enforcement using race or Latino appearance alone to determine which people they stop. In addition, many local law enforcement agencies have spoken out against the 287(g) program because it hinders their ability to do their job as it drives a wedge between police and community members.

“NCLR thanks the CHC for calling for an end to the agreements between the federal government and local law enforcement agencies that have led to blatant racial profiling of Latinos and have compromised the public safety of communities across the country,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.

In reaction to a previous Obama administration decision to continue and expand the 287(g) program, NCLR emphasized the need for increased accountability in the oversight and implementation of programs that have led to abuse and rights violations in Latino and immigrant communities. Earlier this year, NCLR joined 520 organizations, including the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), in writing to President Obama and calling for the termination of the 287(g) program.

“It is time to stop diverting resources to a flawed enforcement strategy predicated on the assumption that we can deport our way out of the situation we find ourselves in. More deportations alone cannot be the solution to our country’s broken immigration system. NCLR looks forward to working with the CHC, Congress, and the administration to achieve meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform,” concluded Murguía.

To view the full letter from the CHC, click here. To view the organizational letter calling for termination of the 287(g) program, click here.

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