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The Organizations of the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation1802 E. Thomas Rd., Suite 15
January 29, 2009
The Leaders of the Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) organizations seek a safe and secure United States. We are committed to American values and the rule of law. We believe that we need comprehensive immigration solutions that deal effectively with:
We realize that these solutions will take time but we know that there are immediate changes needed in the operations of the Department of Homeland Security. We request a meeting with you within 60 days to discuss the following recommendations which are based upon our experiences in communities throughout the Southwest. Homeland Security Recommendations of the Southwest IAF NetworkIntegrity of all DHS ContractsReview ICE Contracts (IGA's) with local law enforcement agencies: Serious and repeated abuses of authority by local law enforcement agencies flow from their current arrangements with ICE under 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Generally these abuses take the form of unaccountable "rogue" activities by individual officers and/or entire agencies. ICE policy and conduct has spawned a patchwork of behaviors and actions by local law enforcement that requires immediate attention. We propose a periodic review and oversight process that allows for public input and inquiry along with careful review and revision of policy and oversight protocols by your office. We further propose coordination between the U.S. Department of Justice and DHS/ICE for impartial review of IGA contracts. DHS Funded Checkpoints: The DHS funded checkpoints manned by local law enforcement officers are often the locus of arbitrary actions, particularly during daytime hours, that inappropriately target minorities. ICE is dispersing funds to states for local enforcement of DUI check points. This strategy needs to be carefully reviewed and reformed. Rogue behaviors on the part of officers of the law need to be identified and disciplined. Outsourcing of Services: DHS departments and/or services depend on private contractors to carry out multiple functions. Many of these firms cut corners and produce unreliable outcomes despite performing sensitive work. In addition, oversight and accountability is reduced as these private firms often do not adhere to the same standards or safeguards as Federal employees. We propose higher standards of accountability and oversight of private contractors and a reduced reliance on the private sector for such sensitive work. Human DignityDetention and Removal: Detention centers are often sites of inhumane treatment of those detained and their families. Families are often unable to visit, or even to contact, loved ones detained and in deportation proceedings. Little, if any, oversight exists for persons detained, many of whom are subject to legal and/or civil rights abuses. Minors are questioned without lawyers, citizen children are displaced and denied rights and entitlements, and unacceptable disruption of families is taking place. We propose greater oversight and accountability of DHS departments and facilities that oversee detention and removal processes. We propose greater public, and especially family, access to persons in detention centers and improved access to legal counsel. Workplace Raids: Workplace raids most often target the lowest paid and most vulnerable workers in our country. They cause enormous fear and disruption across communities because small children are afraid that their parents will be taken away and that they will never see them again. Children should not have to grow up with that level of fear and anxiety in a democratic country. These raids are piecemeal efforts which do little to stop the hiring of illegal immigrants but terrorize entire communities. The raids should be stopped while there is an effort to create structural changes in the immigration system which allows undocumented workers who are needed in the U.S. economy a legal means of working here. Uphold DHS Personnel StandardsSecurity of Border Hiring: DHS, and specifically the Border Patrol, has hired thousands of new agents since 2001, doubling the number of agents it employs in the field. We have learned that drug cartels are attempting to take advantage of the rapid pace of hiring and apparent lax hiring protocols used by the Border Patrol. The cartels are now urging their contacts in the U.S. to apply for jobs with Border Patrol and other DHS departments. We strongly recommend more stringent vetting processes for all DHS agents, especially for Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE agents. Tactics or Standard Operating Procedure: Some DHS agents, especially ICE and Border Patrol, arbitrarily employ harsh tactics when conducting field operations, often resulting in physical abuse and even death of detainees. Such examples include the various workplace raids, beatings in detention centers, and several homicides along the United States - Mexico Border. We strongly urge DHS to implement greater oversight and accountability to prevent future abuses and homicides. Hire Additional Staff to Streamline Application and Entry ProceduresProcessing Time: Applicants are subject to lengthy waiting periods, often lasting decades, for approval of citizenship, permanent residency or visas for family members. Much of this waiting time results from backlogs easily alleviated through improved departmental protocols. These internal reforms, coupled with hiring additional qualified personnel, would allow DHS to reduce the lengthy waiting periods that are too often the cause of immigration violations. H2A Visa Reform: The processing of H2A visas for Mexican workers, which involves both DHS and the Department of Labor (DOL), requires reform in order to cut the time needed for approval, to facilitate the availability of agricultural workers during harvest, and to reduce dangerous time-consuming border crossings. Points of Entry Congestion: As lines at the border entry points grow longer, farm workers crossing every morning must cue up as early as 2 a.m. to ensure connection with the agriculture transport bus in the U.S. Border congestion often traps elderly individuals buying medicine and discourages economic activity of all kinds. Our sclerotic borders in turn encourage alternative criminal violations by desperate individuals and families.
Border Fence: The effort to control unlawful crossing with a costly border fence is counterproductive, leading to increasing creativity among border smugglers, increasing levels of violence, and an unnatural barrier to international trade and cross-border community relationships. We recommend that construction on the border fence cease and that the funds be channeled into hiring additional staff to process immigration applicants, thereby reducing the strain on our border.
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