BJ on illegal immigration
You have to give Sheriff BJ Barnes credit.
He doesn’t mind facing potentially very skeptical audiences about sensitive issues.
On his calendar for next week are not one, but two such events, both about the controversial 287 (g) program.
On Monday the sheriff speaks at New Light Missionary Baptist Church at 6:30 p.m.
Judging from the fliers, he probably won’t face the most receptive audience.
Sponsored by the “Guilford County Coalition for Just Laws and Peace Among Street Organizations,” the program is called “Not in Guilford County.Not in My Community.”
The flier features a photo of man lying on pavement and being handcuffed by police officers.
The flier adds:
What is wrong with the 287 (g) program?
• It encourages Racial Profiling.
• It disrupts Families.
• It Takes Resources from Communities and Programs meant to help Immigrant communities.
The second, scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. at Iglesia Cristiana Internacional (219 S. Elm/Eugene St) and will feature both the sheriff and Police Chief Tim Bellamy. It also will be communicated in both English and Spanish.
I don’t agree with all aspects of 287 (g) and worry that its liabilities might outweigh its benefits.
But I’ve always appreciated Barnes’ candor on his choice to adopt a form of the program in Guilford County. And his willingness to have a reasonable conversation about it.
The Greensboro Police Department also has been more than willing to discuss its approaches to policing in immigrant communities.
Both programs, hopefully, will advance the discussion in a civil, constructive manner.
Comments (4)
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Illegal.
Why does that word seem to get left out of these discussions?
Posted on March 27, 2009 8:49 PM
Illegal means illegal.
What so hard to understand about this.
Maybe you support bank robbers to.
The Greensboro police department, is like most other police departments, hands off illegals, they vote straight democrat.
My car was broken into, while I was parked in front of the friggin court house. They used my cell phone to make 16 calls to Mexico, and about 30 locals calls. They could not catch anyone. My opinion they did not want to catch anyone. If I had my way, they round up, every damn one of them and send them home.
Posted on March 27, 2009 8:57 PM
I find it very telling of Allen Johnson, in that he does not even mention what the 287(g) program does. The only place he mentions "illegal immigration" is in the heading of his post, nowhere in the body of text. He also refers to the program as controversial. From my observation, the only people labeling the program as controversial are the people its affecting (illegals) and those who pander to their interests in the name of "fairness". I am sure laws against armed robbery and drug trafficking are just as controversial in the thug-life community.
Give me a break Johnson, the only reason you want to keep illegal immigrants around and advocate for them is that you know they will continue to vote for democrats and anyone else who promises them the moon.
Posted on March 28, 2009 1:53 PM
Why would it be "controversial" for the Sheriff to enforce illegal immigration laws? Isn't enforcing the law what he is supposed to be doing?
I'm so tired of hearing illegal immigration apologists frame the discussion in racial terms, as though if you believe immigration laws should be enforced, you are a bigot.
But that is simply not true. This isn't about race - it's about respecting the law. Every nation, including the U.S., has the right to control its borders. Otherwise, what's the point of even having nations?
Posted on March 30, 2009 11:18 AM