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BCrTYOF MESA GI'Pllt Qw4/IIy SeMel! The Honorable Michael Chertoff' Secretary of Homeland Security Office of the Secretary RECE/Vf' 20D1 DEC 3 I PH 3: 27 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Secretary Chertoff: December 17, 2007 Pleas e accept thi s letter as a fonn al request from the Mesa City Councll to obtain infonnation relatlng to cross-training Mesa pollee officers under the 287(g) program fOT holding facility services. Uke most communities across the nation and those In border states In particular. Me sa contin ues 10 seek remedies to allevIate the financi al burden that Illegal immigrant s char ged with criminal offences places on ou r ctty and Its taxpayers. To thi s end, the Mesa City Council voted unanimousty on Decemb er 13, 2007, t o pursue a Memorandum of Agreement (MeA) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in a 287(9) cross-training program for Mesa's holding faclllty. Accordingly. we would like to obtain th e followIng InforrnaUon: 1. Is officer cross-training under the 287(g) program currently available? 2. What Is the pe r officer cost of the training? 3. Is fundIng available from the federal government to cover the cost of the training? 4. If h.mding Is not currently available, can the City of Mesa pay for the training? S. If the City of Mesa ' pays for the training. will Mesa be eligible for reimbursement if federal funding becomes available later? 6. When can the training begin? While Mesa apprecia tes the efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforce ment an d understands the inherent c o m p ~ x l t y of strtving to maIntain the nation ' s security with limited resources. the Inability of Congress to enact meaningful ImmIgration reform has lett cltles like Mesa with no at1ema tNe bu t 10 seek loesl solutions . We look forward to learning more about the 287(g) program a M it s potential to lesse n thefinanclal burden of Meas's holding facility costs. Should you need additlonal Information abou t Mess or the Mesa Police Department, please contact City Manage r, Christopher Brady. at (480) 6 4 4 - ~ - or Mesa ponce Chief. . at (480) 64 4 · - - . Sincelltly. h,·Wke, ;f:(}-- Mike Whalen Collncllmember To m Rawtes Councllrnember CouncJlmember Coundlmember c: Special Nlenl Alonzo P e ~ 8 . Immigration and Customs Enforcement 10 Easl MaIn SIred Suitt 7SO P.O . 801 1466 Mesa Arl1O\U 85211-1466 480.6t4.Z388 Tel 4Bil.M4.11'lS f a *
