Immigration Clearinghouse

This is the text of the resolution passed by the Chatham County NC Board of Commissioners, declining participation in the controversial 287(g) program.

These are all valid reasons and completely contrary to what William Gheen of ALIPAC.us is trying convince the voters of NC about.

CHATHAM COUNTY RESOLUTION ON THE
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) PROGRAM 

Part A – The Resolution

Approved January 5, 2009,
by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners

George Lucier, Chair, District 3
Sally Kost, Vice Chair, District 1
Allen Michael “Mike” Cross, Commissioner, District 2
Carl E. Thompson, Commissioner, District 5
Tom Vanderbeck, Commissioner, District 4

Proposed by the Chatham County Human Relations Commission
Margie Ellison, Chair
Heather Rodin, Vice Chair
Marisol Jimenez McGee, Secretary/Treasurer
Roy Barnes Ilana Dubester Scott Ford Mary Harris Jan Nichols Martin Spritzer

Prepared by the Office of Human Relations
Esther B. Coleman, Director
1
CHATHAM COUNTY APPROVED ICE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA) added Section 287(g),

performance of immigration officer functions by state officers and employees, to the Immigration and Nationality Act

(INA) and authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state

and local law enforcement agencies permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions

pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA); and WHEREAS the enforcement of immigration laws by local law

enforcement officials in cooperation with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program has resulted in

abuses in the field of human relations including, but not limited to, racial profiling, conducting raids that instill fears in

the minds and hearts of a portion of the immigrant population, and separating children, who may be American

citizens, from their parents without ensuring proper care; and WHEREAS according to the North Carolina Human

Relations Commission (NCHRC), people in communities that are targeted by ICE are much more reluctant to report

crimes to the sheriff/police departments because of the possible undocumented status of individuals; and WHEREAS

Senate Bill 1523, the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2006 Technical Corrections Bill, permits state and local law

enforcement agencies to give their officers the authority to investigate, arrest, and detain undocumented immigrants;

and

WHEREAS local law enforcement leaders in Chatham County may find themselves in the position of deciding

whether or not to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to

enforce immigration laws on their behalf; and

2
WHEREAS the Major Cities Chiefs (MCC) association has taken a stand against local law enforcement agencies

contracting with ICE and has delineated a number of significant concerns including, but not limited to, the potential

for undermining the trust and cooperation between law enforcement officers and immigrant communities, the lack of

fiscal resources to support the necessary training of local law enforcement for enforcing federal immigration laws, the

complexity of federal immigration law that results in confusion at the local level and that puts local law enforcement

officers and local governments at higher risk of civil liability, and the lack of local authority and state law limitations of

authority to enforce immigration;

and

WHEREAS Chatham County is home to a diverse population – including people

of color, documented and undocumented immigrants, citizens and non-citizens – whose contributions to the

community are vital to its character and function;

and

WHEREAS the Board of Commissioners is committed to

upholding the civil rights of all persons in Chatham County and to protecting the enjoyment of any and all rights and

privileges secured by the constitutions and laws of the United States, North Carolina, and Chatham County;

NOW

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners supports local law enforcement in the execution of

their duties in accordance with the constitutions and laws of the United States, North Carolina, and Chatham County.

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that, in continuing its belief of controlling its own destiny… while proudly preserving diverse

cultural heritages, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners stands in strong opposition to any local

governmental agency contracting with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the purpose of

enforcing federal immigration laws.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution will be forwarded to all Chatham

County law enforcement agencies, locally-elected officials, and to our state and federal legislative delegations on

behalf of the residents of Chatham County.

I think this document speaks for itself and refutes all the ridiculous claims and lies of William Gheen as to why the Resolution should be overturned.

Fortunately, the governing body of Chatham County North Carolina are not intimidated by the lies and fear mongering of the likes of William Gheen and others of his nativist ilk!