Frederick County, Maryland Sheriff Chuck Jenkins says he has no intention of suspending a controversial program to cooperate with federal immigration authorities after a local doctor said fear of law enforcement is an obstacle to getting the county’s Latino population vaccinated.
“I have no intention of suspending the 287(g) Program for any length of time,” Jenkins said in a written statement Friday, referring to the numeric designation of the program in federal statutes. “The 287(g) Program is a detention center based program that has nothing to do with any individual or population going to a doctor and having access to the vaccine, or having access to any other government service.”
Jenkins’ statement came in response to a Frederick doctor, Julio Menocal, recommending he suspend the program for 12 weeks during a countywide virus briefing.
According to sheriff’s department policy, the only undocumented immigrants being handed over to ICE by Frederick County are those who’ve been jailed after being charged with crimes.