News Summary

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to re-establish a local task force in partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This reapplication is part of the federal 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. Sheriff P.J. Tanner hopes for a decision by the end of the year. The initiative has faced significant community opposition due to concerns over racial profiling and trust within immigrant communities, particularly following previous applications that sparked protests.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Reapplies for Controversial ICE Task Force

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has formally reapplied to create a local task force in collaboration with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the 287(g) program, a federal initiative recently revived by President Donald Trump.

Key Details:

• Sheriff P.J. Tanner submitted a letter to the Department of Homeland Security in early February.
• He is awaiting a decision, hoping to hear back by the end of the year.
• The task force model of 287(g) allows local officers to enforce federal immigration law with training and resources from ICE.
• Officers can question individuals about their immigration status and detain them for potential deportation.

The 287(g) program, which includes three branches, was reintroduced under Trump’s administration after being discontinued during Obama’s presidency in 2012. It aims to fulfill campaign promises to increase deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Current Context:

• More than 350 law enforcement agencies have adopted the 287(g) program as of March.
• In South Carolina, contracts exist with multiple sheriff’s offices and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
• The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office previously participated in a similar task force until early 2013.

Local community reactions have been mixed, with significant opposition arising due to concerns over racial profiling and community trust. Tanner’s previous application in early 2017 sparked protests and public dissent.

Notable local positions include:

• Jasper County Sheriff Chris Malphrus indicated his department would not apply for the 287(g) program, instead assisting ICE as needed.
• In earlier collaborations, Beaufort County focused on serious crimes involving undocumented individuals rather than random immigration checks.

The future enforcement strategy under the potential new task force remains unclear, with questions about the number of participating officers and possible additional hiring. Past task forces involved six deputies, some bilingual and equipped with the DHS’s IDENT system for identifying immigration violations.

Opposition Perspectives:

• Civil rights organizations deem the 287(g) program ineffective and risk fostering discriminatory practices.
• Local residents like Gaby Garcia argue it misuses law enforcement resources and instills fear in immigrant communities.
• Fernando Soto suggests a balanced approach, advocating for a focus on high-level crimes as a basis for ICE involvement.

Advocates continue to encourage Latino residents to understand their rights and the constitutional protections against deportation actions.

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Additional Resources

• Island Packet: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Reapplies for ICE Task Force
• Wikipedia: 287(g) Program
• WTOC: Beaufort Co. School District and ICE Guidance
• Google Search: ICE Task Force
• Post and Courier: Beaufort County Weather Update
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
• WSAV: Beaufort County Weather Driving Warnings
• Google News: Beaufort County Sheriff