Dole amendment expands 287(g) program

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole is crowing this morning about the Senate's approval last night of an amendment she offered to provide more money to help local law enforcement agencies "apprehend, identify and remove criminal illegal aliens."

Dole, a Salisbury Republican, is referring to the so-called 287(g) program. Under the program, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) works with local law enforcement to combat illegal immigration.

A handful of North Carolina counties, including Mecklenburg and Alamance, have such agreements with ICE.

The amendment approved last night would provide an additional $75 million for the program.

"To address the problems presented by individuals who are not only here illegally but who have self-identified themselves because of criminal behavior - we must provide the funding for ICE to make the necessary resources available to our local law enforcement officers who are on the front lines," Dole said.