Due to a reporting error this story misidentified the speaker at the Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting from the Coalition for College Access. The woman speaking was Amanda Gutierrez a founding member of the coalition. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.
Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass tried to clarify his decision to enroll the county in a program that alerts federal authorities to illegal immigrants who have been arrested.
At its meeting Thursday the Orange County Board of Commissioners expressed concerns that it could lose control of the decisions made for the people in Orange County by enrolling in the program called Secure Communities.
It is one of the controversial programs started by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It links the sheriff's office to a federal database and alerts federal authorities when an illegal immigrant is in the sheriff's custody.
In response to the board's concerns Pendergrass used an example of an individual who was convicted for sexual offenses in Orange County. ICE was notified and he was placed in a jail in Georgia but he still has a hearing in Orange County.
Until recently" many of the board members were unaware of Pendergrass' decision to enroll in the program and questioned its implementation.
""I don't have a choice" Pendergrass said. By the end of the year" the whole system in the state of North Carolina will be just the same as ours.""
He said that by 2010" all 100 counties in North Carolina would be required by the state to enroll in the program.
The board was unconvinced by the sheriff's argument and agreed that the program should be discussed further with the county manager chairwoman and vice-chairman of the board the county attorney and Sheriff Pendergrass.
Rachel Craft president for the Coalition for College Access" addressed the board concerning her apprehension about the program and the possibility of racial profiling after the floor was opened for public comments.
""We are concerned about the backlash from the fear this program will cause in the community"" Craft said. We are eager to see Orange County as a leader again in preserving rights and safety in our neighborhoods.""
Pendergrass denied that racial profiling would be a problem.
""There's a lot of misconception about the Secure Communities Program"" Pendergrass said. The section is only looking for criminals? We are not going to sweep people off of neighborhood streets.""
In 2007" the board passed a resolution expressing that local law enforcement should not enforce federal immigration laws.
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