By Roberto Lovato Groups across the country are mobilizing to put pressure on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and President Obama to end the devastation caused by the Obama Administration’s 287(g) program. Denounced by (some) police chiefs, several government officials and many, many community groups, 287G is the program that allows local and state law enforcement officials act as enforcers of federal immigration law and provides the legal means for the racial profiling, mass and arrests and other violations of the most basic civil and human rights. The program enables the widespread and illegal practices of the notorious Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The current target of what will be a series of actions to pressure the Obama Administration is tonight’s appearance by Secretary Napolitano on the Bill Maher show. Community groups are asking Maher to raise racial profiling and other 287G issues during his interview. Join the increasing numbers of Latinos, civil and immigrant rights groups and others who are growing impatient about what they consider the hypocrisy and duplicity of President Obama with regard to racial profiling. In light of the massive amount of racial profiling taking place under his recently expanded 287(g) program-a program Obama and Napolitano recently expanded-many find less-than-credible President Obama’s statements concern about how the recent arrest Professor Henry Louis Gates reflects “a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately.” You can take several actions including: Contact the Bill Maher Show on Facebook and ask them to raise the issues with Napolitano- http://www.facebook.com/Maher?ref=t And on twitter here: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23billmaher Press release for the action is here: http://jornaleronews.ndlon.org/?p=349 And those of you in Los Angeles can join the protest and press conference at Bill Maher’s studio tonight: Contact (Engish y Español): Loyda Alvarado, (323) 434- 8115 What: Press Conference, Rally, and Demonstration Why: To Urge Bill Maher to Ask Secretary Napolitano about DHS Racial Profiling Practices, 287(g), Joe Arpaio Where: 7800 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA (Near corner of Beverly and Fairfax) When: Friday, July 24, 2009 Time: 5:30 to 7 pm