ICE: Mesa cops wait for immigration training

Some of Mesa’s leaders want to revisit a failed proposal to allow local police to train with federal immigration officers so that they can more easily identify and apprehend illegal immigrants.

But officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told the City Council at a meeting earlier this week that there is a waiting list to join the training program, known as 287(g). www.

At least 26 local law enforcement agencies across the U.S., including the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, already have signed agreements with ICE to participate in the training, according to ICE’s Web site, www.ice.gov.

But cities that have tried to apply recently are being told that they will have to wait.

ICE spokesman Michael Peña told Mesa leaders he doesn’t believe the program is permanently closed to new applicants, even though a lack of funding has stopped its expansion for now.

Mayor Keno Hawker said he wants to know when ICE will have enough money to expand the program,

Hawker and Vice Mayor Claudia Walters said Congress’ inaction on dealing with immigration issues means it’s time to consider local action.

“To not have funding for this program doesn’t even make sense to me, so I think we need to add our voice to our Senate and Congress members about this issue,” Walters said.

Police Chief George Gascón said the inability to identify people quickly to tell whether they are lying about their identities is holding back the Mesa Police Department. “People don’t like to tell you who they are, whether they’re here illegally or not,” he said.

A 1996 law authorized federal law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with state and local police departments to allow them to perform some immigration enforcement duties. But first, they must be trained by ICE.

More than 400 officers across the country have received the training, according to the ICE Web site.

Hawker said he will bring up the issue of cross-training police officers at a city meeting. He said he hopes the city will be “in line” for the program if funding becomes available again, although the council had voted 5-2 against participating in such a program. “I hope there’s a change of heart,” he said.

But Councilman Tom Rawles said he remains concerned about any crackdown.

“I recognize the problem and certainly don’t want to do anything to facilitate the release of violent criminals, but at the same time, you don’t want to spread your net so wide that you capture the innocent,” he said.

A year ago, Councilman Mike Whalen told the Tribune that illegal immigrants will be hesitant to report crimes to local law enforcement for fear they will be deported.