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Beverly Hills, California, United States
Eli Kantor is a labor, employment and immigration law attorney. He has been practicing labor, employment and immigration law for more than 36 years. He has been featured in articles about labor, employment and immigration law in the L.A. Times, Business Week.com and Daily Variety. He is a regular columnist for the Daily Journal. Telephone (310)274-8216; eli@elikantorlaw.com. For more information, visit beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com and and beverlyhillsemploymentlaw.com

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Immigration Laws

New York Times (OPINION):

To the Editor: Re "Napolitano Accuses Critics of Politicizing Border Issues" (news article, Feb. 1), about the 287(g) program:Your article cites a report claiming that the program is problematic because it results in the arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants with little or no criminal record. Such a view is misguided and dangerous.The 287(g) program allows state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security to help enforce federal immigration laws. When the program began, there was no intent to limit it to criminal illegal immigrants or to those who commit serious offenses. I should know because I wrote the law that established the program.Waiting until illegal immigrants commit criminal offenses before deporting them places American citizens and legal immigrants in danger.America's immigration laws apply to all illegal immigrants, not just those who have committed crimes. The Obama administration is responsible for enforcing those laws, and the 287(g) program is a useful tool to help do so.

Lamar SmithWashington, Feb. 1, 2011

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