Beyond 287(g): Immigration, Community Trust, Public Safety, and Local Law Enforcement Accountability

As immigration enforcement partnerships continue to expand, communities and local governments face increasingly complex questions about public safety, civil rights, legal liability, and community trust. This panel brings together law enforcement leaders, policy experts, advocates, and legal professionals to discuss the realities of 287(g), lessons learned from communities across the country, and practical strategies for fostering safety while protecting constitutional rights.

Panelist:

Robert Stewart, Ret

Bob Stewart is a policing expert, facilitator, and consultant with extensive experience in law enforcement leadership, police reform, and community engagement. He is the CEO of Bobcat Consulting LLC and Director of Policing With Our Community (PWOC)© LLC, where he helps police departments and communities build stronger partnerships and advance effective community engagement. A graduate of Howard University and U.S. Army veteran, Bob began his law enforcement career with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and later served in executive and chief-level leadership roles in Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, and higher education policing. He also served as Executive Director of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Nationally recognized for his expertise, Bob has advised law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally. He has served on police reform and consent decree monitoring teams, acted as a court-appointed monitor, and provided expert testimony in major civil rights and policing cases. Bob is a member of PERF and NABCJ, a Police Futures Fellow, and a life member of NOBLE, IACP, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with his wife Cheryl, a retired deputy chief and military veteran.

Capt. Sonia Pruitt, Ret.

Sonia Pruitt is a distinguished figure within law enforcement and academia. With a robust career spanning 28 years, she retired as a veteran from the Montgomery County PD in Maryland, where she made history as the first African American woman to ascend to the rank of captain. Presently, Pruitt is a professor of Criminal Justice at both Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Montgomery College in Maryland, where she imparts her wealth of knowledge and experience to aspiring professionals. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom as she has also served as the past-president of the National Black Police Association, advocating for equity and representation within law enforcement. Additionally, Pruitt is the visionary Founder & CEO of The Black Police Experience, an organization committed to advancing education and awareness surrounding the intricate dynamics between law enforcement and the Black community. Through her multifaceted roles, Pruitt continues to shape and influence discourse in both academic and societal realms.

Ret; Maj Neil Franklin, Ret.

Major Neill Franklin (Ret.) is a nationally recognized law enforcement leader, criminal justice reform advocate, and public speaker with a distinguished 34-year career in the Maryland State Police and Baltimore Police Department. During his service, he led major initiatives in training, drug enforcement, and domestic violence investigations, including establishing the Maryland State Police’s first Domestic Violence Investigative Units.

Franklin’s experiences on the front lines of policing, including the loss of a close colleague during an undercover drug operation, shaped his commitment to advancing evidence-based public safety and drug policy reform. In 2010, he became Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), serving for a decade and leading efforts to promote effective, community-centered approaches to public safety.

A sought-after speaker and commentator, Franklin has addressed audiences ranging from community organizations to Harvard University and Congress, and has appeared on major national media outlets including CNN, FOX, and MSNBC. His writings have been featured in the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. In addition to serving as an expert witness in state and federal courts, Franklin has contributed to numerous nonprofit and community organizations focused on justice, public safety, and youth engagement. He remains a leading voice in policing reform and community-centered public safety.

Ron Hampton Ret.

Ronald E. Hampton is a retired Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department veteran with 23 years of service and former Executive Director of the National Black Police Association. He also served as a Law Enforcement Fellow at the University of the District of Columbia’s Institute for Public Safety and Justice and currently works with families and students as a Family Support Worker for the Georgia Avenue Family Support Collaborative.

Throughout his career, Hampton earned national recognition for his leadership in community policing, crime prevention, and police-community relations. He helped design and deliver community policing and problem-solving programs for residents in public housing and led initiatives focused on crime prevention and alternative community sentencing.

Hampton has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice, American University, Amnesty International USA, and the Carter Center’s Human Rights Program, contributing to criminal justice and human rights efforts both domestically and internationally. His work has taken him to Ethiopia, Guyana, Britain, Canada, the Bahamas, and South Africa, where he led a People-to-People Delegation of law enforcement professionals. A longtime advocate for justice and community engagement, Hampton currently serves as President of the D.C. Autism Society and is active in efforts to reimagine public safety through the Institute of the Black World’s Police Justice and Accountability Task Force.

Lt. Ray Rice, Ret

Moderator: Terry Watson

Participant Takeaways

• Understand how 287(g) operates in practice

• Recognize legal and liability implications for local governments

• Learn strategies for maintaining community trust

• Identify resources available to impacted residents

• Explore alternatives and best practices for community-centered public safety

This panel discussion is ideal for