News

Councilmember Graham calls for WMATA to Focus on Transportation and Not Immigration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ted Loza
(202) 724-8835

April 27, 2007

Washington, DC – In a Council oversight hearing on Tuesday on transportation, Councilmember Graham questioned WMATA’s Executive Director and CEO John Catoe on his knowledge of reported Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) interrogations of Latino commuters in the Washington Metro area.

“We are not going to lend our offices nor our resources to engage in enforcing federal immigration laws,” said Councilmember Graham. “We are in the business of transportation and not immigration. And, I’m prepared to issue a resolution from the [WMATA] Board on this matter,” he concluded. His concerns and warnings are based on reports that ICE has been conducting detentions and interrogations of Latino commuters in subway stations on the WMATA system.

Mr. Catoe stated, “We are not in the business of enforcing immigration laws. That’s the responsibility of federal agencies.” Mr. Catoe disassociated himself and WMATA from any ICE operations on the WMATA system.

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