HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. () — Over a hundred people on Hilton Head Island marched to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Friday, all asking for the same thing.

“We’re here today to demand that Sheriff Tanner get rid of 287g,” Immigrant Rights Advocacy Strategist with ACLU South Carolina Dulce Lopez said. “It’s an agreement that deputizes local law enforcement to act as federal agents, carrying out immigration enforcement.”

According to Sheriff PJ Tanner, participating in the voluntary program will give Beaufort County deputies access to data from Homeland Security which they can use to see outstanding warrants or charges a person might have in another country.

Tanner held a meeting on Wednesday where many residents raised concerns about what the proposal could mean for locals. 

“This is what everybody was afraid of before” demonstrator Kevin Linarez said. “In the past, they thought just because of your color that you could get stopped, but they weren’t aware that we have rights and are protected by the constitution. Now, this is being taken away from us.”

Tanner said the plan is to use the database to get more info about anyone who is considered a suspect in a criminal case felony or misdemeanor, but demonstrators questioned what will actually happen. 

“What happens when a person of color, a person like me is driving, and they’re trying to get groceries, they’re trying to drop off their kids at school. They get pulled over for a simple traffic infraction, and then they get put into the deportation machine,” Lopez said. 

Another demonstrator said that the program would take time away from policing local needs. 

“These aren’t criminals,” demonstrator Marci Gurton said. “They’re people who are going to work. They’re keeping Hilton Head running in hotels, restaurants. They’re helping to pick food. So, it’s really a waste.”