Cumberland County sheriff withdraws from ICE enforcement program

Fayetteville, N.C. — Cumberland County Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler has decided to pull his department's participation in a federal program to identify illegal immigrants charged with crimes.

The federal 287(g) program is administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under it, ICE agents give local law enforcement agencies access to federal immigration databases so they can identify illegal immigrants they have arrested on local charges. ICE trains officers how to initiate deportation cases against those people.

Debbie Tanna, the sheriff's spokeswoman, told WRAL News on Sunday that Butler's decision came after ICE asked for jail space and resources that were not available. The jail operates at full capacity, Tanna added.

ICE also wanted county employees assigned to work with the program to waive their rights to privacy. Bulter said honoring that request would have violated state personnel regulations, according to Tanna.

Cumberland has participated in the program since June 2008.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted in January against participating in the ICE program, saying that doing so could have negative consequences for the community. Chatham has a significant Latino population.

Wake and Alamance counties still participate in the ICE program, and Orange County is part of a separate ICE program called Secure Communities that doesn't include the deportation portion of 287(g).

24 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 24 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments

Count me in "Democrats for report and deport, Inc."

6079 SMITH W
December 7, 2009 7:59 p.m.

Illegals should only be deported after they serve their time for the crimes committed. ICE is a joke, there are only a few agents in NC which is reportedly #3 in the illegal alien population. Democrats want them as citizens because most of them would vote for dems that's why you won't see any legislation or a fence. Enforce the existing laws!!! Funding for more Border Patrol Agents and ICE is needed.

dono422
December 7, 2009 7:30 p.m.

IF I lived in Fayetteville he wouldn't be sheriff after the next election!

go4gin
December 7, 2009 6:54 p.m.

God help us.

Gaz
December 7, 2009 6:18 p.m.

squawk08,

And what, exactly, what the Federal/State/County cost share on that fancy new jail Moose Butler is so proud of and now refuses to admit federal prisoners into?

How about the Federal and State Dollars poured into Cumberland County...specifically for law enforcements...do you know the dollar amount of GRANTS and EARMARKS?

To say there is NO FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN is silly. All you have to do to see some is go on your local Congressman's website and look under their EARMARKS...or better yet...go to the Whitehouse's Porkfest Allocation site and click on Cumberland County!

Lets tell this like it is...its the FIRST STEP TO A SANCTUARY CITY FOR CRIMINAL MIGRANTS!

As long as you insist on voting in Democrats this will only get worse!

affirmativediversity
December 7, 2009 4:47 p.m.