[June 9, 2015, Bel Air, MD] Late last week, Sheriff Gahler sent an official request to the Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to initiate the Harford County Sheriff’s Offices participation in the Delegation of Authority Program pursuant to 8 CFR§287(g) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act.

This partnership with the Federal Government provides deputies with the tools and authority necessary to assist in enforcing immigration laws and ensuring that individuals who commit crimes and are in this country illegally are turned over to federal authorities for deportation, once they fulfill their obligation to the State of Maryland. The 287(g) program allows our agency to enter into a partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under a joint Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to receive delegated authority for immigration enforcement within Harford County.

If selected, the Harford County Detention Center would be the second agency in the State of Maryland to participate in this program. To implement the program, Sheriff Gahler has requested Jail Enforcement Officer training for ten (10) Correctional Deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, as well as, all equipment and materials required to effectively run the 287(g) program and identify criminal illegal aliens currently housed at, and brought into, the Harford County Detention Center. Correctional Deputies will be selected on a volunteer basis, and complete these assignments as a secondary assignment, separate from their normal duties.

This request comes after much research into the Delegation of Authority Program to include, several meetings with the local ICE Field Office, a tour of the 287(g) operation currently in place at the Frederick County Detention Center, and numerous interviews with correctional officers already trained in Maryland. After much consideration, it is the belief of Sheriff Gahler that a formalized partnership with ICE will benefit the citizens of Harford County and should be considered a priority.