TROY – The controversial 287(g) program run by Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick Russo will hold its mandated steering committee meeting Wednesday behind the locked doors of the jail’s secured area.

The New York Civil Liberties Union Capital Region chapter and Democrats expressed concerns about the notification of the meeting and the June 10 cutoff date for notifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if a person wanted to attend and comment.

Since Russo signed up his department – the only police agency in the state to participate -- for the program last year he’s been criticized by some for making immigrants feel uneasy and dividing the community. Two corrections officers trained by ICE check to determine if there is an immigration hold on inmates so that they can be turned over to the federal agency.

Russo, a Republican running unopposed for re-election, has said he’s received few complaints and that the program is another tool for law enforcement.

The NYCLU Capital Region has written Russo about the meeting, raising issues about compliance with the state open meetings law, said Melanie Trimble, the chapter director. Trimble noted that the sheriff should be making it easier for people to attend the meeting by holding it in the evening instead of during the day and not inside the secured part of the jail but rather in its publicly accessible areas.

The jail has a large conference room where press events are held off the entrance to the jail building.

Russo said the meeting was announced on the sheriff’s office web site. He said it was scheduled for a smaller conference room inside the correctional facility due to ICE’s security concerns and to the limited number of people expected.

County Legislator Carole Weaver, D-Troy, said she received notice about the meeting from the Republican-run Legislature after the June 10 deadline in the sheriff’s notice. Weaver said she would be at the meeting.

Trimble also said she would attend with the NYCLU’s immigration lawyer up from New York City.

The sheriff’s department has only found two inmates with immigration holds. Russo said an update will be given on the program.

The agenda for the steering committee meeting calls for Russo and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Buffalo Field Office Director Thomas E. Feeley to make remarks. ICE representatives will deliver a presentation on the 287(g) program including the sheriff’s office participation.

The Legislature’s Democratic minority released a list of the 287(g) committee members that it obtained from the sheriff’s department. The members from the county are Russo, Undersheriff Edward Bly, Chief David Hetman, County Executive Steven McLaughlin and County Attorney Carl Kempf. The ICE members are Feeley, Program Manager Richard Nicol, 287(g) program manager, Deputy Chief Counsel Brian Counihan and Public Affairs Officer Rachael Yong Yow.