A federal anti-crime and immigration program has stirred a hornet's nest with protesters on both sides of the issue weighing in.
"The impacts of such an agreement will divide families and destroy our communities all together," said Luissana Santibanez.
While on the other side of Preston Street, supporters of the controversial program had their say.
"These officers came to work as police officers to help curb crime to help protect the community and then their hands are tied by not allowing them to use things like 287 (G)," said Charles "Bull Whip" with U.S. Border Watch.
The 287(G) program is a tool used by the Harris County Sheriff's Department to screen an inmate's immigration status.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Adrian Garcia asked commissioners court to approve a three year contract to extend the program in his intake processing center.
"We need to keep what works and do away with what doesn't," said Sheriff Garcia.
But opponents gave stinging criticism of the program they believes is a tool for racial profiling.
"We think that his intent, the intent that he has, is to use this as weapon," said Deacon Joe Rubio with Catholic Charities.
"LULAC is a civil rights organization, this 287 (G) is very detrimental to the Hispanic community," said another opponent.
In all, three of the four commissioners voted to extend the agreement despite its detractors.
The 287(G) program has cost taxpayers $1,023,691 since its inception a year ago. Under the new agreement those costs may go up due to increase jail time for detained inmates, who will not be given bond, if they are placed under an immigration hold.
"Bottom-line it takes criminals off the streets and if those criminals happen to also be here illegally then it turns them over to immigration and they get deported," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.
Still, Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, the lone hold out, said the federal program should not be a local burden.
"It's really not a question whether or not we want criminals on the street. It's a question of how much its costing the local taxpayers because we are not immigration officers," said Precinct 2 Commissioner Garcia.
The controversial vote was a sweet victory for supporters of 287 (G), but a stinging defeat for opponents who believe it will create fear in the immigrant community.
"The impacts of such an agreement will divide families and destroy our communities all together," said Luissana Santibanez.
While on the other side of Preston Street, supporters of the controversial program had their say.
"These officers came to work as police officers to help curb crime to help protect the community and then their hands are tied by not allowing them to use things like 287 (G)," said Charles "Bull Whip" with U.S. Border Watch.
The 287(G) program is a tool used by the Harris County Sheriff's Department to screen an inmate's immigration status.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Adrian Garcia asked commissioners court to approve a three year contract to extend the program in his intake processing center.
"We need to keep what works and do away with what doesn't," said Sheriff Garcia.
But opponents gave stinging criticism of the program they believes is a tool for racial profiling.
"We think that his intent, the intent that he has, is to use this as weapon," said Deacon Joe Rubio with Catholic Charities.
"LULAC is a civil rights organization, this 287 (G) is very detrimental to the Hispanic community," said another opponent.
In all, three of the four commissioners voted to extend the agreement despite its detractors.
The 287(G) program has cost taxpayers $1,023,691 since its inception a year ago. Under the new agreement those costs may go up due to increase jail time for detained inmates, who will not be given bond, if they are placed under an immigration hold.
"Bottom-line it takes criminals off the streets and if those criminals happen to also be here illegally then it turns them over to immigration and they get deported," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett.
Still, Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, the lone hold out, said the federal program should not be a local burden.
"It's really not a question whether or not we want criminals on the street. It's a question of how much its costing the local taxpayers because we are not immigration officers," said Precinct 2 Commissioner Garcia.
The controversial vote was a sweet victory for supporters of 287 (G), but a stinging defeat for opponents who believe it will create fear in the immigrant community.
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