Boozman Votes for 287(g) Funding

Press Release

Boozman Votes for 287(g) Funding

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today voted to fully-fund a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission which would allow local and state law enforcement agencies federal training.

Boozman voted for the Drake Amendment to H.R. 2638, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008. The amendment would fund the 287(g) program at the level requested by President Bush ($26.4 million), rather than the reduced amount proposed by Democrats ($17.266 million).

"The 287(g) program is important to local law enforcement, and the residents of the Third District," Boozman said. "It represents a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to improve the quality of community policing in our neighborhoods, cities, and counties. It creates a seamless web of information sharing and training which will result in making our communities safer."

The 287(g) program is a voluntary one where the federal government reimburses state and local authorities for expenses related to immigration enforcement training. The 9/11 Commission stated that "there is a growing role for state and local law enforcement agencies. They need more training and work with federal agencies so that they can cooperate more effectively with those federal authorities".

"This program is a good use of the resources provided by the federal government by the men and women who patrol our communities and have knowledge of our hometowns which cannot be equaled by federal officers," Boozman said. "This program should be fully funded so we can have another tool to stem the tide of illegal immigration in the United States."

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