White to feds: Please rush that immigration training

As reported in the Chronicle's blog
March 17, 2009

Houston Mayor Bill White sent a letter this week to a top U.S. immigration official requesting that the federal government expedite Houston's participation in the controversial 287 (g) program that trains jailers to act as immigration agents.

In the letter, dated Monday, White also says he will be urging "other jail custodians" in the Houston region to enter into agreements with the federal government. (See the text of the letter below.)

The rush for a 287 (g) agreement marks a departure from the mayor's past position that local police should have limited involvement in immigration enforcement. In addition to committing to improve screening at Houston's jails, White is pressuring the federal government to deport illegal immigrants convicted of crimes after they finish their sentences.

The mayor last week also committed to using a Homeland Security database that automatically checks suspects' immigration history.

The catalyst for the changes, White said last week, was the shooting of Houston Police Officer Richard Salter, who was critically injured by an illegal immigrant from El Salvador during a drug raid and remains hospitalized.

In a story this weekend, the Houston Chronicle reported that very few illegal immigrants are being identified in the city jail. Last year, HPD jailers detained for immigration officials less than 1 percent of the 58,774 suspects booked only into the city's jails and not transferred to the Harris County Jail, according to recent documents obtained by the Chronicle through a public records request.

Since August, the Harris County Sheriff's Office has participated in the 287 (g)program, and has stepped up screening in the county's jail system.

Last week, conservative TV talk show host Glenn Beck went on a tear about Salter's shooting