Residents of Northwest Arkansas face deportation because of minor offenses or false charges, federal and local law enforcement officials were told at an annual public hearing today.
The 287(g) program of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency allows sheriff's officers to check the immigration status of peole arrested and notify the federal agency in those cases where the person appears to have violated immigration law. The program requires a public hearing each year, hosted by immigration and local law enforcement, who volunteer to participate in the program. Benton and Washington counties are the only two in Arkansas who participate.
An overflow crowd of 150 packed today's hearing at a conference room at the Benton County Sheriff's Office with another 20, at least, waiting outside. None of those signed up to speak at the hour-long event favored the program.
The only speaker defending the 287(g) program, Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway, got his chance to talk when an opponent yielded two minutes of his allotted three minutes to him. Another would-be supporter was not allowed to speak because he had not signed the required sign-in sheet before the meeting began.
A false accusation that was quickly dismissed led to the arrest of Fayetteville resident and nurse Rahab W. Kingori, speaker Jessica McClard said. Kingori had an appeal active to make her residency permanent before the arrest. According to another speaker, another Fayetteville resident is being held by immigration officials despite the same agency's notification of an administrative mistake delaying the renewal of his "green card," or permanent residency status. The reauthorization is pending, according to the speaker.
Read more about the event in tomorrow's Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Commentary on 12/12/2018