Annapolis (November 6, 2007) - Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold announced today that officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and Department of State have created 17 nationwide task forces to combat the growing problems of document fraud and immigration benefits fraud. Participants in the task forces include ICE, The Department of Justice, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, State Department Office of Inspector General, State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies. At the direction of County Executive Leopold, the Anne Arundel County Police Department proudly joins the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force located in Baltimore City. The Chief of Police, Colonel James Teare, Sr., will permanently assign a police officer to the Baltimore field office as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Task Force Officer. In addition, one officer from each of the four districts will be selected to receive specialized training in the areas of ICE and document fraud to conduct enhanced investigations and also to collaborate with the department’s ICE task force officer. "This new task force follows an executive order signed in August by County Executive Leopold that requires all businesses and individuals contracted with the County, to comply with federal law regarding the employment of illegal aliens," said Colonel James Teare, Sr. "This order demonstrates the Administration’s strong stance against illegal immigration." County Executive Leopold stated, "I firmly support the participation of the police department in the task force as it demonstrates the county’s strong stance against illegal immigration." "The police department is committed to aggressively investigating crimes committed by illegal immigrants," County Executive Leopold added. "By participating in the task force, we will unite with other agencies’ experts to focus our efforts on detecting, deterring and disrupting document fraud and other related crimes committed by illegal immigrants." ICE Special Agent in Charge James A. Dinkins stated, "It is important that law enforcement agencies work together to combat individuals who enter the US illegally and seek to exploit our local communities through gang activity, document fraud, identity theft, and other felonious criminal acts. These criminal organizations undermine our social and economic security." | 
