WCPT 820 Interview: Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch

Richard Chew is joined by Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, immigration attorney and CEO of Lincoln-Goldfinch Law in Austin. She discusses the expansion of immigration enforcement through local law enforcement cooperation and the humanitarian impact on families.

Expansion of Local ICE Cooperation
- Lincoln-Goldfinch reports a peak in national and Texas immigration apprehensions during August.
- The $70 billion federal funding package is being used to fund so-called 287(g) cooperative agreements between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local law enforcement.
- These agreements provide massive funding for local officials, including salaries and bounties for human apprehensions.
- Lincoln-Goldfinch notes that these apprehensions are becoming more silent and insidious, appearing as routine traffic stops rather than visible raids.

Financial Incentives and Legislative Mandates
- Small towns in Texas are receiving significant funds, such as approximately $750,000 for a town of about 2,000 residents, despite low undocumented populations.
- Lincoln-Goldfinch warns that local police may become budgetarily reliant on immigration enforcement to maintain high salaries and bonuses.
- The Texas legislature has mandated that every county with more than 100 residents must participate in these 287(g) agreements.

Case Study of Family Detention
- Lincoln-Goldfinch discusses the case of Liam, a five-year-old boy detained alongside his father in Austin.
- The apprehension occurred during a traffic stop where ICE officers allegedly engaged in racial profiling without a legal pretext.
- DHS is accused of lying about the ability of parents to pick up children from detention centers upon apprehension.
- Families face the risk of permanent separation if they attempt to fight the detentions through legal channels.

Private Prison Profits and Oversight Concerns
- Private prison companies CoreCivic and GEO Group recently reported quarterly profits of over $1.5 billion combined.
- Lincoln-Goldfinch expresses concern regarding shrinking oversight as agencies like the FBI stop investigating ICE killings.
- There are reports of ICE withholding body cam footage unless it benefits the agency's interests.
- Recent spending by ICE includes $20 million on high-voltage stun gun gloves, instead of agent retraining or oversight improvements.