Dubuque raises the Balance Act for local authorities in enforcing the federal immigration

Dubuque, iowa (AP) – des Moines, Iowa (AP) – A sheriff of iowa warns that his district is publicly ashamed by the Trump government because he is not sufficient for the president's immigration agenda, although he is “more than happy” to help. He said he just wanted to make sure that he did not end too few civil servants, prison beds and dollars to react to the needs of the district.

The sheriff of Dubuque County, Joe Kennedy, who serves almost 100,000 people in the area, who borders Wisconsin and Illinois, seemed to try not to alienate the federal government when he refused to take part in a program that would commit income from the district and immigration. This week he declared his decision in front of a full district chamber and attracted mixed reactions.

President Donald Trump instructed his administration in an executive order last month to “publish a list of states and local jurisdiction that hinder the enforcement of the Federal Immigration Act (sanctuary of jurisdiction)”. However, sanctuaries are generally understood as state and local governments that restrict cooperation with the federal immigration authorities, but does not respond to the criteria.

Jonathan Thompson, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Sheriffs' Association, spoke in a note on May 2, including Kennedy, according to the documents published for the district meeting. Thompson said the list could publish before Trump's deadline on May 28th and he encouraged those who are interested in the training and strengthening of their civil servants to enforce the immigration laws to “act quickly”.

The number of state and local authorities that have increased the staff to enforce the federal immigration laws has increased since Trump started an application for 588 in 40 states with 83 applications. Immigration laws are federal laws, and the enforcement is largely a federal responsibility.

Kennedy answered in March at an invitation of a US immigration and customs official and said it was not a “good fit” to conclude a 287 (G) contract that relates to the section of a law of a 1996 law that enables state and local police to carry out immigration liability. He made it clear that it was about money and prison, not about politics.

“It was generally my experience that these agencies, when we work with larger companies (state), usually” give “more than” give “. Essentially we usually end up in any way the short end of the stick, ”he wrote.

Kennedy said that he “would be more than happy to help her agent in our area”, ICE asked not to rely on his prison of 181 beds because he has no place.

David Binder, an official in Ices Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Office, was sympathetic in his short answer: “Don't worry, Lord, I understand completely and thank you for your time on this matter.”

Some inhabitants of a meeting of the County Board of Supervisors on Monday supported Kennedy, a democrat. Others wanted him to do more with immigration authorities. A Republican supervisor suggested that a 287 (g) agreement could cost the district or taxpayers, but would be essential for public security.

Kennedy told the residents that his office was and will be a partner of ICE, but that a “binding agreement” could affect other law enforcement work.

“If you work with the federal government, our employees have the potential to become their employees,” he said.

A law of IOWA prohibits state and local officials to adopt guidelines that restrict cooperation with the federal immigration authorities. Attorney General Brenna Bird recently sued Winneshiek County's sheriff about a Facebook post from whom she said that she discouraged the cooperation and possibly endangered state financing for the district.

The Trump government has also initiated legal steps against governments with guidelines that limit the arrests of immigration and sued Chicago, Denver and Rochester, New York.

Thompson, who represented the more than 3,000 sheriffs of his association when Trump signed the decision on April 28, said that the president was clear that he would look at “every corner and Winn” for the support in enforcing immigration laws.

But Thompson said that every sheriff has to make a decision that is suitable for his community. Some may not have any money or a prison room, which endangers other obligations.

“Every sheriff needs a different mandate as if he needed a hole in his head,” he said.

So far, Iowa has registered an agency for the program: the Foreign Ministry of Public Security. No other agency is listed as an active or outstanding 287 (g) agreements. Florida has 255, more than any other state.

ICE did not respond to AP issues as to whether an agency who rejected a 287 (g) agreement was included in the sanctuary list of the administration.

Thompson said he doesn't know.

“I try to advise members,” he said. “There are challenges, opportunities and risks.”

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