People Protesting 287(g) Gather Outside Mecklenburg County Jail

CHARLOTTE, NC.– An update on the controversial 287(g) program in Mecklenburg County. Tuesday, protesters gathered outside the jail. They say the program unfairly targets innocent people – and they want to get rid of it. Supporters say it gets violent criminals off the streets.

Dozens of people clutching signs reading “No 287 G” and “ICE out of Charlotte” marching the sidewalk on Fourth Street Tuesday.

“We as a community stand against 287(g) program. This is a program that has deported more than 15-thousand people from our community,” Immigration advocate Oliver Merino.

They want to get rid of 287(g), a program allowing deputies to run a suspect’s name through immigration databases to determine if they’re undocumented.

“The knowledge is critical in protecting and maintaining a safe work environment for law enforcement for our jail,” says Sheriff Irwin Carmichael.

Sheriff Irwin Carmichael standing beside a display of some of the undocumented suspects, who are accused of murder, rape, and other serious crimes. Defending 287 (g), urging people to stop spreading what he calls: false information, anger, and fear.

“The reason this program came about in 2006 is because a third of the inn mates inside this jail, they couldn’t identify who they were,” says Sheriff Carmichael.

Sheriff Carmichael saying a person will only encounter the 12 -year- old program if they’re arrested. He says it’s only affected 1% of all who are arrested. Carmichael says deputies do not discriminate and that they ask everyone their immigration status. Immigration advocates say most of those who are being deported, is for something like not having a driver’s license.

35 Charlotte area community organizations, including a LGBTQ advocacy organization, signing a letter to Sheriff Carmichael spelling out their opposition.

“We have signed onto the letter because we believe that this is an inter-sectional issue that affects all communities and all residents and all citizens in Mecklenburg County,” says Chair of Meck Pac Matt Comer.

Former CMPD homicide investigator, Gary McFadden is running for sheriff, saying if he was elected– 287(g) would go.

“We would educate the community on why it went and the things that didn’t work well and I think educating the community is the primary focus of 287(g),” says McFadden.