After hearing input from citizens on Tuesday, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) appointed Reverend Cozy Bailey, Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, and Tracy Lennox to the Jail Board.

The majority of those who spoke during public comment time supported the elimination of the 287(g) program, and the newly appointed members of the Jail Board are expected to end the program.

287(g) is a program that deputizes local police officers to act as federal immigration agents at the cost of the local government. It was first established by Cory Stewart, former Chair At-Large of the BOCS. It was introduced as part of Stewarts efforts to target Prince William County’s immigrant community.

The 297(g) program is the same program that Joe Arpaio, former sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz. used to harass and terrorize the Latinx community.

“These are people’s lives we’re talking about here,” said Ann Wheeler, Chair At-Large of the BOCS after listening to citizens speak passionately about ending the program.

Speakers who supported eliminating 287(g) spoke about personal experiences, gave statistical analysis, and discussed the negative economic impact that the program has had on county funds.

Those opposed to eliminating the program gave incohesive arguments. One such person was Thomas Speciale, a Republican who is running for Senate against incumbent Mark Warner. Speciale went as far as to liken eliminating the 287(g) program to the holocaust, telling supervisors that they will be viewed as complicit German citizens in Nazi Germany who stood by during Hitler’s rise to power.

Other arguments from proponents of the policy claimed that 278(g) makes communities safer and has led to a decrease in crime in Prince William County. One resident cited Gainesville as an example, but there is no evidence that 287(g) has had any impact on criminal activity in the Gainesville District. 

Most of the statistics cited by those who opposed eliminating the program were inaccurate.

No data suggests 287(g) programs have made any community safer. However, several studies suggest that such programs create a larger divide between law enforcement and the public, especially communities of color. Programs like 287(g) have eliminated trust in law enforcement. Additionally surveys have concluded that these programs actually discourage people from reporting crimes in their community and make the community less safe.

The appointments were confirmed with party-line vote. Democratic Supervisors Victor Angry, Andrea Bailey, Kenny Boddye, Margaret Franklin, and Wheeler voted to confirm the appointments while Republican Supervisors Yesli Vega, Pete Candland, and Jeanine Lawson voted in opposition. 

Despite claims that in-person comments were not allowed, several people spoke in person to oppose the elimination of the program, including Speciale. 

The board also appointed three alternate members: Lisa Johnson Firth; Richard Mattox; and Zalouteacha Jackson.