Mr. Joe Kirby
Dear Mr. Kirby:
In response to the November, 19, 2007 Marietta Daily Journal
article regarding Immigrants to Sheriff:
Stop violating our rights, there are several issues addressed by Ms. Elise
Shore of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) that
need to be clarified. More importantly,
I am weary of my comments being misconstrued by organizations who oppose my
implementation of the 287 (g) program and our
partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As I have said time and time again, as
Sheriff, it is my constitutional responsibility to uphold the laws of this
State and protect the citizens of this community. I will continue to use this
program as a law enforcement tool to keep criminals off the streets and in
jail.
In July, we initiated the 287(g) program as a tool for
identifying illegal immigrants charged with committing crimes in our
community. To have Ms. Shore state that
“Cobb Sheriff Officials are violating the civil rights of the county’s Latino
residents” is simply not true. To my
knowledge, there is no record anywhere that the Sheriff’s Office, ICE or any
other law enforcement agency in this county has violated anyone’s civil
rights. If I find out other wise, I will
take immediate action and resolve the issues brought to my attention. However, as with any new program, there is a
learning process and Sheriff’s employees along with ICE agents are working
diligently to ensure that all policy and procedures within the Memorandum of
Agreement are being followed correctly.
The article further mentions that MALDEF has written me
insisting that the “county create a committee to monitor potential rights violations
caused by its immigration enforcement procedures”. According to the MOA, “the ICE Special Agent
in Charge and/or the ICE Field Office Director in
In reference to Ms. Shore’s statement that “It’s
mean-spirited enforcement of the law…, the Sheriff of Cobb County is more
interested in getting moms and dads on their way to work than enforcing other
laws”, I would like to say that I personally find her comments offensive, not
only to myself, but to all Sheriff Office employees and to other law
enforcement officers in
Ms. Shore further states that she has received complaints
that “Latinos have said that they’ve been arrested because of minor traffic
violations such as driving without a tail-light or turn signal”. Driving is a
privilege, not a civil right. Prior to
receiving a Georgia Drivers license, one must pass a test demonstrating that he
or she understands the laws of this state.
As far as I am concerned, whether in the country legally or illegally,
it is a violation of Georgia law to operate a motor vehicle without a valid
driver’s license, license tag or proof of insurance. Operating a 4,000 pound
vehicle is a tremendous responsibility and the driver has an obligation to
ensure that the vehicle is in good working condition such as working tail
lights, brakes, etc. Ms. Shore may consider some traffic violations
as minor, but in my thirty years as a law enforcement office, I have seen too
many traffic violations that have resulted in homicides.
In 2004, the citizens of this county elected me Sheriff and
it is has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this capacity. The responsibly of providing the best law
enforcement services to the community is one I take seriously. The implementation
of the 287(g) at the
Sincerely,
Neil Warren
Sheriff