Governor Hogan Under Fire From Immigration Advocates
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Governor Hogan is under fire from immigration advocates. The advocacy group CASA de Maryland protested outside the governor's mansion, asking him to reconsider his decision to comply with federal authorities and detain people targeted for deportation.
Political Reporter Pat Warren has more on the issue.
Demonstrators circled the governor's mansion in protest of the state's compliance with federal immigration authorities, who want to be informed when someone targeted for deportation is released from jail.
Attention to the role of local governments in illegal immigration has grown since the murder of a San Francisco woman last month. The suspect had been released in April, despite a request from Homeland Security for police to detain him so he could be deported.
CASA is protesting Maryland's compliance with a federal program to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement when and where inmates at the city's detention center identified by immigration are being released.
"CASA is in favor of having comprehensive immigration reform. CASA is in favor of a fair and just process. This program right now, there is no indication that it will be fair or it will be just," said Zorayda Moreira-Smith, CASA community development.
The governor's office issued this statement:
"The Baltimore City Detention Center is simply complying with a request from the Obama administration in regard to individuals who have already been detained. If CASA has concerns about Obama's Priority Enforcement Program, I would recommend they take those concerns to the White House."
CASA's concern is that the program invites abuse.
"And what it does is incentivize racial proifling and individuals that look like me can be stopped and arrested and notify ICE to pick me up," said Moreira-Smith.
A Hogan spokesman says it's a public safety issue, not an immigration issue.
The ACLU and more than 20 other organizations joined CASA in its appeal to the governor.
Maryland will voluntarily hold inmates flagged by immigration for up to 48 hours after their scheduled release.