Rally in NC, I will be there from SC

Once a low-profile professional organization, the N.C. Sheriffs' Association has jumped into the fray on immigration. Its reward has been a windfall of state money.

The group got $750,000 in state money last year -- its first state funding -- on the promise that it would help North Carolina sheriff's offices begin ferreting out illegal immigrants.

It is expected to get $1 million more in this year's budget, even though very few sheriffs have gained authority to enforce immigration law and the association was unable to spend its full allocation last year. The association, which lobbies and provides training and support services to the state's 100 sheriffs, has no direct role in arresting or deporting illegal immigrants.

Some state legislators say the funding, which has so far come with little oversight, is an attempt to quell controversy.

``The state budget must respond to a worrisome issue where there is public concern and public demand,'' said Rep. Alice Bordsen, a Mebane Democrat who heads the House budget committee that approved the sheriffs' money.

Bordsen said she agreed to give the association more money this year despite unanswered questions about how last year's funds were spent. She also said she finds the group's positions on immigration ``worrisome.'' In a resolution, the group refers to ``illegal alien invaders,'' singles out Mexicans as being responsible for much of the state's drug trade and calls for a cut in the number of legal visas for immigrants.

But Bordsen said giving money to the sheriffs' association is ``better than many things we could be asked to do,'' such as passing laws that penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants.

Lawmakers say they thought the funding would help most of the state's sheriff's offices sign up for the federal 287(g) program, which allows deputies to check immigration status and begin deportation proceedings for illegal immigrants brought into county jails.

The association says it is using the money to help sheriff's offices -- including the Wake County Sheriff's Office, which will begin the program in July -- fill out paperwork, negotiate agreements and cover costs of sending deputies to four-week training.

However, Wake is one of only three new North Carolina offices that have been accepted into the federal program in the past year, and officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement say they don't have the resources to enroll more. ICE spokesman Richard Rocha said no more will join the program in the near future.

That came as a surprise to lawmakers.

Rep. Jimmy Love, a Sanford Democrat who heads the justice and public safety appropriations subcommittee with Bordsen, said that when he included $1 million in this year's budget, he thought many more counties would join the program.

'More people involved'

The sheriffs' association ``represented that there were going to be more people involved, more deputies getting this training,'' Love said. ``All we did, basically, was take their word.''

Love also said legislators did not research the cost of helping offices sign up for the program before granting money. The federal government covers most of the costs of the program, except for the salaries of deputies who train for and carry out immigration duties.

Eddie Caldwell, the association's general counsel, said the group is working with federal officials to find the best immigration enforcement method for each sheriff's office.

In addition to helping the offices that have signed up for 287(g), he said, the group is offering training about other enforcement programs and about state laws regarding immigrants.

Caldwell said the association's main goal is to offer accurate information to sheriffs interested in immigration enforcement.

``This is a complicated and evolving issue,'' Caldwell said. ``There was a tremendous amount of misinformation.''

Caldwell declined to give a detailed accounting of how the state money has been spent. According to a document given to a legislative committee in March, the association spent $620,500 since July on ``technical assistance'' to sheriff's offices and reimbursement of training costs. Included in the costs are the salaries of two new employees hired to oversee the immigration programs, along with a support staffer. Caldwell declined to release their salaries.

The association did not plan to spend the remaining $129,500, according to the document. The money, however, is already in the association's account, state officials say.

Caldwell said the group is awaiting legislative guidance on what to do with the leftover money. He said the program didn't begin until October of last year, which accounts for the lower spending levels this year.

No oversight authority

The association is not required to give more information because the legislature funneled last year's allocation through the Governor's Crime Commission but gave the commission no authority to oversee its spending.

David Jones, the crime commission director, said most private groups must submit a grant application and then be reimbursed for expenses. In this case, he said, ``all that passed was basically a blank check.'' He said the group took $100,000 a month, the maximum allowed under state law, until the money was gone.

The association must a give detailed accounting to the state auditor by March.

This year, Jones said, he asked state budget writers to force the association to go through the standard grant process. If the $1 million remains part of the final budget, Jones said he will be able to monitor its use.

Several advocates have raised questions about the money.

Rebecca Headen of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina said the association has refused to allow the public to attend its meetings about the state-funded program.

And at a meeting last week, the Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs took aim at the group's funding.

``Public funds should go to public organizations that have public accountability,'' said Ebher Rossi, a council member and lawyer from Alamance County. ``They should not go to private groups that are openly anti-immigrant.''

Another council member, Ilana Dubester of Pittsboro, said she sees the state funding as political cover for legislators who need to defend themselves against the charge of being weak on immigration.

``There are a lot of angry people out there,'' Dubester said. ``I imagine that ÃlawmakersÄ are feeling some pressure.''