CIS ILE: Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law and Section 287(g) Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) allows local law enforcement to enforce Federal immigration law. Take a look into three successful programs and learn how they got that way.  Access this program NOW.        RATINGS: [SP] [CM]  Program Description Section 287g of the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorizes the Attorney General of the United States to enter into an agreement with local and state law enforcement agencies authorizing those agencies to enforce certain provisions of the INA. The most effective way to protect communities is to remove criminals who prey on the residents. Through the enforcement of immigration law local and state law enforcement can remove significant portions of the criminal element in their communities - including gang members, violent felony offenders and sexual predators - and have them deported. This one hour LEAPS program will tell the story of 287g and its implementation and enforcement and the impact it has had on three different communities through the eyes and words of sheriff 's deputies who are responsible for administering local justice with this national tool. This program is moderated by a recognized expert in 287g issues and policy from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) who will assist the three sheriff's deputies from three different jurisdictions to tell their stories and to share lessons learned with the LEAPS.TV audience. Like most LEAPS.TV programs a significant portion of the program will be devoted to interactive Q&A between viewers and guests. [Recommend this LEAPS.TV program to a colleague.] Guest Bios Michael J. Williams, Commander Collier County (FL) Sheriff's Department Commander Michael J. Williams is in charge of the Collier County Sheriff 's Office Criminal Alien Task Force (Operations) as well as being one of the Sheriff's Legal Counsels. Commander Williams holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University and a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law from which he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Commander Williams served in the United States Army Reserve and Virginia National Guard (Infantry) from 1989 to 1991 having been honorably discharged at the rank of Specialist. In January 1998 Mike went to work for the United States Border Patrol where he attended the U.S Border Patrol Academy in Charleston, SC from which he graduated 4th in a class of 53. Mike was stationed in Sonoita, Arizona (Tucson sector) where he worked as a Patrol Agent and was certified as a firearms instructor, law instructor and public information officer. Mike left the Border Patrol in October 2001 in order to attend law school. Mike attended Quinnipiac University School of Law from May 2002 until May 2005 when he was presented with his Juris Doctor. Mike graduated Magna Cum Laude and was presented with the Alfred Nevis award for excellence in Constitutional Law. Mike also received 4 separate Academic Achievement awards. In May 2005, Mike joined the Collier County Sheriff ' s Office as a law enforcement deputy assigned to the Patrol Division, Golden Gate district. In January 2006, Mike moved to the Special Enforcement Team where he continued his law enforcement duties until October 2007. At that time, Mike was promoted to Corporal and transferred to the newly created Criminal Alien Task Force. Mike assisted in developing the long term strategy, policy and standard operating procedure for the first Criminal Alien Task Force 287g program in Florida. From October 2007 until present, Mike has commanded the Operations side of the task force which is responsible for the arrest and deportation of hundreds of violent criminal offenders. The Collier County 287g Criminal Alien Task force has been recognized by the Department of Homeland Security as a model program for the rest of the nation. As of April 1, 2009, the CATF had detained over 1500 criminal aliens for removal in a county population of approximately 300,000. In November 2008, Mike was promoted to Commander of legal affairs. Commander Williams is responsible for continued coordination of the Criminal Alien Task force as well as providing legal counsel to the Sheriff. Michael E. Lindsay, Lieutenant Harris County (TX) Sheriff's Office Administrative Lieutenant Michael E. Lindsay of the Processing Division of the Criminal Justice Bureau of the Harris County (TX) Sheriff's Office wanted to be a law enforcement officer for as long as he can recall and joined Harris County law enforcement on January 1st, 1978 at the age of 18 when Houston County had a population of roughly 22,000. Today Sheriff Adrian Garcia oversees the 3rd largest Sheriff's Department in the US with a force of nearly 2,400 sworn deputies protecting over 4 million citizens. Lieutenant Lindsay is assigned to the Processing Center where he helped design and presently oversees the 287(g) program which was started in 2008 and has grown to 8 full-time personnel. Between August 18th, 2008 and June 30, 2009 the Houston County Sheriff 's Office has placed 9,662 detainers on foreign born criminals. The Harris County Sheriff's Office, Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff 's Department and the Los Angeles (CA) County Sheriff 's Departments compete on a monthly basis for the most detainers placed. Lieutenant is a 2007 Graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 231 and has numerous other certifications in a variety of law enforcement areas. David Wesley Lynch, Lieutenant Whitfield County (GA) Sheriffs Office Lieutenant David Wesley Lynch joined the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office in Dalton, Georgia as a Detention Officer in March 2001 and was responsible for the supervision and care of arrestees and inmates. By April 2002 he had attained the rank of sergeant and was responsible for the leadership and supervision of detention personnel, and was a member of the policy review board for detention procedures. Lt Lynch completed basic peace officer training with the award for academic excellence and became Division Lieutenant in February 2003 and initiated and organized divisional training, assisted in creating organizational standards for detention training, reviewed and implemented divisional policies and procedures and was a guest instructor for numerous agencies in issues related to both patrol and detention training. Additionally, Lt. Lynch coordinated and assisted in training for multi-agency active shooter response, multi-departmental High Risk Warrant training, and SWAT courses and became the local agency ICE point of contact and departmental coordinator for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Among his commendations are Certificate of Academic Excellence, NCGA Police Academy, Special Agent appointment for the 2004 G-8 Summit, Governor's Certificate of Commendation for 2004 G-8 Summit, Class Favorite Award for SWAT level I, Letter of Appreciation, State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Victim's Day, Letter of appreciation, training assistance, Captain Bedford, Catoosa Sheriff's Office, Letter of appreciation, training assistance, Chatsworth Police Department, Guest instructor for local SWAT training courses, Whitfield and Murray Active Shooter response courses, and NWGA regional police academy. Lt. Lynch holds an Associate of Arts in Psychology from Dalton State College in Dalton, GA, a dozen Specialized and Instructor Certifications and over a dozen more General Training Certificates. Moderator Bio Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies Center for Immigration Studies Jessica Vaughan is the Director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, a research institute in Washington, DC (http://www.cis.org). Mrs. Vaughan has been with the Center since 1992, and her areas of expertise include: immigration law enforcement, policing and public safety; visa and benefits programs; and state and local immigration initiatives. She is co-author of a forthcoming report describing the public safety benefits of the 287(g) program, and a forthcoming study examining the incarcerated criminal alien populations. In 2008 she directed a Department of Justice-funded project on immigrant gangs. She is an instructor at Northwestern University's Center for Public Safety, testifies at Congressional and state legislative hearings, and is frequently cited in the news media. Prior to joining the Center, Mrs. Vaughan was a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department, where she completed consular and administrative assignments. Mrs. Vaughan has a master 's degree in government from Georgetown University and earned her Bachelor 's degree in international studies at Washington College in Maryland. She telecommutes to CIS from her home in Franklin, Massachusetts. Her web log (blog) can be viewed at http://cis.org/blog/13. Sponsored by This program is being made available at no charge to the law enforcement and public safety community thanks to the generous support of The Law Enforcement And Public Safety Channel.