police checking immigration status

I have a question about police checking immigration status. A few days ago I read in my local newspaper (Dalton, Georgia) that some of the cops in my city were going to be trained in a new program that would involve checking the immigration status of any illegals they arrest and turning them into ICE. I have heard that this is already being done in other cities around the country. I was wondering if any of you live in one of these cities. If so, how those this work? Do you also get deported if you are driving without a license? Sorry if these questions sound dumb, but I'm freaking out and so is every one who lives where I live. Please help.

Its a perfectly valid question and a concern to many immigrant communities.

The program is called 287(g) training, named after the section of the bill that authorized the program. This program provides federal training to state and local law enforcement to identify and report illegal immigrants to the ICE. Most state and local law enforcement have no means or methods to identify illegal immigrants if they catch them. This programs provides the necessary training.

Note that this program doesn't allow state or local law enforcement to actively track and report illegal immigrants. If a person is apprehended for a criminal offense, this program provides the necessary training to identify the criminal's immigration status and then turn over him/her to ICE. This program IS NOT a program to conduct a manhunt for illegal immigrants. Only if an illegal immigrant commits a crime, felony or misdemeanor (depending on the local law) , then he/she will be turned over to ICE. Only if an illegal immigrant is arrested, then he/she will be turned over.

Some cities and localities are empowering their police to check the immigration status of drivers that are pulled over. I don't know if Dalton, GA or Georgia itself has passed any laws that empower the local police to ask for immigration status of drivers. See if you can find that out.

Bottom line, stay out of trouble.

If you are pulled over without a license, they will need to idenfity you in some way. They won't let anyone go unless the cop is really naive or very nice, but those chances are slim. If they try to identify you but they can't, they will become very suspicious. I definately would not drive around those area. There are countless of articles of people who have already been pulled over by cops, didn't have a license, were turned over to ICE and deported.

You shouldn't be driving without a license.

I know that there are very exceptional circumstances that require you to drive. For example, for work or making a living. In that case, the best you can do is avoid being pulled over, i.e. making sure your car is fine, your plates are renewed and you don't speed.

If you're driving just for the sake of driving, then its not worth the risk of being pulled over and then deported.

there are no dumb questions (except: is allicrap right? should i join allicrap?)

cops cant ask you for papers, if they do ,you have the right to remain silent

But if you remain silent, they can detain you. But if they ask for papers you don't have, you'll be getting detained anyway, so it may be best not to incriminate yourself.

The only thing you can give to cops is your full name and that's all, unless you are driving drunk or something else, Other than that you can remain silent, the worse thing that could happen is that they impound your car.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I definitely don't drive around for fun. I used to have to drive to college and work. Thank God I graduated last May and now work with my dad who does have a drivers liscense. I'm worried about some of my family members because there are so many rode blocks where I live, specially on the weekends. Not being able to drive makes it so hard to have a life, specially when you are 22 years old.