Police Misconduct Lawyer Amarillo – Embattled Waller County Jail in Texas is Approved for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) Program
Waller County Jail in Texas has become recognized worldwide as the place where Sandra Bland committed suicide in her cell after a controversial arrest. The death of Bland stands out as a significant turning point in the social movement to put an end to alleged racial police violence. The same jail has a record that continues to stir up negative controversy, and yet it has been approved by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take part in immigrant deportation. An agreement has been reached between Waller County and ICE to deputize two sheriffs for the immigration enforcement program 287(g). The highly controversial program gives deputies authorization to arrest and detain individuals based on their immigration status.
Waller County is now part of an aggressive immigration strategy being implemented by President Donald Trump. At least 25 other local police agencies have just been enlisted to enforce federal laws. Sources in opposition to these activities express their concern that ICE doesn’t seem to care about questionable track records among the individual law enforcement agencies they work with.
For instance, in addition to Bland’s death in 2015, other flags have been raised at Waller County Jail. In March 2017, a female prisoner was allegedly sexually assaulted by a male inmate who had been allowed to perform cleaning duties in the jail. County officials said there had not been authorization for him to engage in the cleaning work.
An inspection of the jail after that incident found the jail staff non-compliant in at least three separate areas. These violations included allowing male and female inmates in the same area without direct supervision.
ICE formally approved Waller County’s application to join the 287(g) initiative, even though the approval came within days of the assault allegations and a failed inspection.
As with every post on this website, we are only providing information in this post and do not make any allegation or assertion that anyone acted inappropriately or engaged in misconduct.
–Guest Contributor
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