Gwinnett Daily Post
Sunday
January 10, 2010

Sheriff: 287(g) works

Conway says deportation plan easing jail crowding

LAWRENCEVILLE — Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway, the shepherd of 287 (g), says the fast-track deportation program is showing clear signs of success less than two months since its activation.

Conway shrugs off claims from immigrant rights activists who complain the program is racially motivated. He points instead to data that show 287 (g) is easing jail crowding and could save the county millions, while pulling law-breakers by the hundreds from streets and neighborhoods.

Here’s a breakdown by nationality of illegal alien suspects identified by Gwinnett’s 287 (g) program since its Nov. 16 activation:*
• Africa – 2
• Brazil – 1
• Colombia – 1
• Cuba – 3
• El Salvador – 21
• Guatemala – 24
• Honduras – 38
• India – 1
• Jamaica -1
• Mexico – 227
• Other* – 43
• Panama -1
• Philippines -1
• Unknown -1
• Virgin Islands -1
*Source: Gwinnett County Jail statistics updated late Thursday. The “Other” category constitutes countries not tracked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. — Josh Green
Conway credits 287 (g) with a dramatic decrease in bookings of illegal immigrants since its Nov. 16 debut. Such bookings — which he said can gum the system — dropped roughly 31 percent over the same timespan a year prior. The overall jail population has dipped to 2,400 — levels not seen since early 2007, Conway said.

“Even with the economy going down, we still saw an increase in foreign national book-ins every year,” he said. “Now they’re down tremendously.”

In the following conversation with staff writer Josh Green, the sheriff discusses community feedback and the attributes of 287 (g), while disputing claims that the program is xenophobic:

Josh Green: In its first six weeks, 287 (g) will be directly responsible for deporting 286 inmates. Is that number about what you had in mind beforehand?

Butch Conway: I actually thought the number would be higher. But our jail population numbers have gone down, much more so than I expected.

JG: You’ve seen a tangible impact in the jail already?

BC: Yes. That impact is from not booking as many foreign-born people.

JG: Is that more because word about the program has gotten out, or is it tied to some sort of exodus out of Gwinnett?

BC: That I don’t know. Obviously, fewer foreign nationals are being booked; that number’s substantially fewer. All I can see is that 287 (g) is responsible for those drops.

JG: How often is it that a suspect comes in without any shred of ID and no common language? Is this something you deal with commonly?

BC: Oh yeah.

JG: Then what?

BC: We have people who speak different languages working here, and they’ll try (to) translate.

JG: Is there any way to check that (suspects are) not flat-out lying to you about who they are?

BC: Yeah. Now we have biometric (tests). They can actually take a fingerprint and, within a few seconds, it’ll identify the person (in county, state and Homeland Security databases).

JG: Has the backlash to 287 (g) surprised you?

BC: Backlash?

JG: Backlash in terms of detractor groups being very audible about their displeasure.

BC: That’s kind of like a fly on a horse’s rump. I haven’t seen that to be a very substantial argument or number of people involved in it.

JG: One of their primary arguments is that 287 (g) promotes racial-profiling …

BC: That’s just a distraction.

JG: I’ve heard you call it “absolute bull.”

BC: If you look at Saul Alinsky’s teachings, that’s what they follow. The ACORN-type philosophy of finding an issue to detract from what you’re after and put the attention somewhere else. And also to make your opponents look racist, that’s part of it.

JG: One common argument is that 287 (g) unjustly rips apart families. How do you respond to that?

BC: That’s not anything within my purview. I’m just enforcing the law.

JG: As a whole, a county, what is Gwinnett’s opinion of 287 (g)?

BC: From what I’ve seen, everyone is strongly in favor of it. The media keeps calling it a controversial program. This is the least controversial issue I think I’ve had as sheriff. I think there are more people in favor of what I’m doing than anything I’ve done to date.

JG: Do you gather that from talking with people? Do you get letters cheering you on?

BC: Oh yeah. E-mails, and I look at blog postings. It’s obviously very favorable among the community.

JG: (Opponents) want legislation passed that would call for a greater accountability on the part of law enforcement. What they mean is that, when it comes to making vehicle stops, they want a reason documented and demographic information documented. Does that sound reasonable to you?

BC: That’s a horrible idea. It puts more on the officers, creates more paperwork, more bureaucracy. I think some people would find it offensive if they’re a passenger in a vehicle and an officer asks them what their race is. I would find that very offensive.

JG: How would you respond to the argument that police are concentrating on areas where people of a certain ethnicity might be?

BC: I think the police are concentrating on higher-crime areas. If that correlates, then that’s just a side issue. That’s not what (police) are there for.

JG: You’ve been in Gwinnett law enforcement (since 1973). It was a vastly different place back then, to say the least. Did you ever imagine it becoming so diverse?

BC: I never imagined Gwinnett with the population growth we’ve experienced. I came here from DeKalb County, where I grew up, and Gwinnett had a population of about 70,000 people. It’s changed somewhat.

JG: Changed in terms of size and diversity.

BC: Certainly. I think that’s a good thing. I welcome the diversity we have.

JG: What’s the value you see, personally, in a diverse county?

BC: Just the different cultures, the different restaurants you get to eat at. Different foods you get to try.

JG: Is deportation a be-all, end-all solution?

BC: It will lower the crime rate. Gwinnett will be safer with some of these people gone. Not to say that all illegal immigrants are bad people; we just shouldn’t have to deal with any of them. They shouldn’t be here. (With) this agency, the cost is probably $6 to $7 million a year that could be tied to illegal immigrants.

JG: If you were able to retain that money, any ideas where it would go?

BC: Probably in getting civil papers served quicker. Arrest warrants are backlogged. We’re inundated with failure to appear bench warrants. Up to this point, an illegal came in, either made bond immediately … or after 48 hours, if it was a misdemeanor, they were released on their own signature. A high number of those people failed to appear. Then we end up with arrest warrants, and having to try to track them down. That can be difficult in that community sometimes.

JG: How common are instances of illegal immigrant suspects being deported here and coming back?

BC: I really don’t know the answer to that. They certainly do come back sometimes, but that’s a felony offense when they’ve re-entered. The ones we’re getting deported now … I don’t think they’re coming back like they used to. Obviously, with the economy, the jobs aren’t here. Is it worth the trouble and expense to come right back? Probably not.

JG: I noticed some new 287 (g) signage (on jail property).

BC: We’re not trying to hide anything. I think the word’s out in the community that if they go to jail, there’s a good chance they’ll be deported. I’m not talking strictly Hispanics. We’ve gotten Caucasian illegals. They’re from countries all over the world.

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