*UPDATED

Response from DPS GSPPIO <gsppio@gsp.net>

July 18, 2019    1:29PM

We are in receipt of your request.

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To whom it may concern at GSP

I am writing a news item for submission to various news outlets including Breitbart News as well as Georgia news outlets and will post the final product on my own widely-read blogs at the DustinInmanSociety.org/blog and ImmigrationPoliticsGA.com .

To insure accuracy and balance I am hopeful that you will respond with an official comment on the apparent lack of an agreement/MOU/MOA with ICE for 287(g) authorization. DPS is not listed on July 2019 federal records that show participating entities for the 287(g) program.

I am aware of the requirement under state law that the department be 287(g) authorized and have officers trained each year and of the fact that the Obama administration terminated the original/previous MOU on December 31, 2012.

My write up will illustrate that the Trump administration issued an Executive Order and memorandum in January, 2017 that made it clear 287(g) was part of the “Enhancing Public Safety in the United States” inituative:

“To the greatest extent practicable, the Director of ICE and Commissionerof CBP shall expand the 287(g) Program to include all qualified law enforcement agencies that request to participate and meet all program requirements. In furtherance of this direction and the guidance memorandum, “Implementing the President’s Border Security and ImmigrationEnforcement Improvements Policies” (Feb. 20, 2017), the Commissioner of CBP is authorized, in addition to the Director ofICE, to accept State services and take other actions as appropriate tocarry out immigration enforcement pursuant to section 287(g) o f the INA.”

I have posted the Executive Order and the associated memorandum here for your convenience 

It is my educated understanding that both the Jail Model and the Task Force Model for 287(g) are available for use by authorized agencies and that ICE is on standby to welcome applications.

Questions

Has the department attempted to reapply for 287(g) authority to ICE since the original MOU was rescinded by the Obama administration and the Trump administration made it clear that 287(g) was being expanded and funded?

If the answer is “no” – please explain reasoning?

If yes, please include the dates of any application to ICE for renewing the authority to be 287(g) authorized as is required by Georgia law?

I welcome any additional information or comments that will help readers understand the current absence of 287(g) – trained DPS officers.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I have great respect for the job your department does.

My deadline is Monday, noon. (July 22, 2019)

Thank you.

Very respectfully,

D.A. King

FYI – My recent column in the AJC on 287(g) here.