GREENE COUNTY, Va. — Greene County Sheriff Steven Smith said his office will continue participating in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program amid public discussion over the department’s involvement.
In a Facebook statement, Smith said the sheriff’s office will continue cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing public safety and his responsibility to enforce the law.
In the statement, Smith said several individuals arrested by his office were examples of people removed from the community through its participation in the program.
The sheriff’s office described the individuals as criminals but did not provide details in the statement about their charges, convictions or immigration cases.
Smith also referenced MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, describing it as a transnational criminal organization associated with crimes including murder, assault, kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking and robbery.
“Our cooperation with our federal partners is about public safety and protecting the people of Greene County,” Smith said. “I will continue working every day to make our community a safer place for all citizens.”
The 287(g) program allows ICE to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under federal oversight.
Two fliers were included with the Facebook statement, both indicating the arrest of MS-13 gang members. However, the identities of the men were not disclosed and their booking photos were each obscured by a black bar.