ACLU Accuses Otero County Of Illegal Conduct
CHAPARRAL, N.M. -Otero County Sheriff’s deputies turned 28 illegal immigrants over to the border patrol on Wednesday, September 12.
They say it’s all part of law enforcement efforts in their area.The AmericanCivil LibertiesUnionsaid Sheriff’s deputies from Otero County are irresponsibly policing innocent neighborhoods by knocking on doors and checking identification without cause.
Monday, Otero County Sheriff’s officials explained the roundup. The raidsare being conducted byaU.S. Department of Homeland Security program called Operation Stonegarden which gave New Mexico roughly$1.6 million dollars to pay local law enforcement overtime wages to participate in immigration enforcement along the border.
Otero County received nearly $140,000dollars for Operation Stonegarden. TheACLU said it hasa half dozen reports of sheriff’s deputies using illegal means to contact theimmigrantsand then ask for their identification. Otero County Sheriff’s Departmentdenied those claims Monday, saying they only cross-checked illegal immigrants who drew attention to themselves by other means.
