COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman has applied to join the 287-G program, a federal initiative that allows local law enforcement to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.
What the 287-G program does
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, the program allows federal ICE agents to partner with local law enforcement to remove criminal aliens. Sheriff Countryman said his office plans to use ICE resources specifically to further investigate violent cartel members already under investigation.
“I’ve said for the past six years that we have cartel movement in Muscogee County. There’s no way you can seize over 320 million dollars in drugs over six years and there not be a cartel hand in it,” Countryman said.
Sheriff’s stated focus
Countryman said his deputies have no plans to seek out undocumented immigrants. He said since taking office, his office has confiscated millions of dollars in drugs and more than 1,600 guns, and that the program would serve as an additional investigative tool.
“I’ve made it known and upfront that that’s not our mission, that’s not our goal with this 287-G program. We want every tool we can have to further our investigative tools,” Countryman said…