Posted on 11/08/2003 4:13:37 PM PST by Stew Padasso
Yuma cops uneasy with arresting illegal aliens
BY JAMES GILBERT Nov 7, 2003
Yuma County Sheriff Ralph Ogden thinks legislation that would require local and state law enforcement agencies nationwide to arrest illegal immigrants will do more harm than good.
The measure, which is being pushed by Republicans in Congress, would also force officers to demand a license, registration and proof of citizenship on all routine traffic stops.
This Compartment which housed eight illegal immigrants, was discovered in a tractor-trailor at 4a.m. Thursday
"We live in an area that is mostly Hispanic," Ogden said. "I'm not saying illegal immigration is right, but when you start asking people if they are documented or undocumented, you're taking chances on alienating a whole bunch of people."
Passage of the bill is uncertain, but U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., who introduced the Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act in July, has 106 co-sponsors — including Arizona Reps. Trent Franks, J.D. Hayworth and John Shadegg, all Republicans.
In proposing the bill, Norwood argued that the 2,000 federal immigration agents charged with tracking down 8 million to 9 million illegal immigrants now in the United States cannot do their jobs without help from hundreds of thousands of local law enforcement agencies and officers.
At present, local law enforcement agencies such as police and sheriff's departments don't have authority to arrest people for violating immigration laws, which are federal statutes, said Sgt. Cesar Fazz, of the Yuma Police Department.
Fazz added that state and local law enforcement agencies do, however, turn undocumented immigrants arrested or involved in other crimes over to federal immigration authorities.
Yuma Police Chief Robby Robinson said the use of police to detain immigrants would be "a real complicated issue." He added that Norwood's legislation, if passed, will tax the resources of local law enforcement agencies.
Yuma sector U.S. Border Patrol officials are noncommittal on the bill.
The legislation would not require local law enforcement agencies to track down undocumented immigrants, but those localities that refuse to cooperate in assisting federal immigration authorities could lose millions of dollars in federal money.
"It's a scare tactic," Ogden said.
Ogden said the new bill is a result of a bad immigration policy, and would basically turn his deputies into Border Patrol agents if passed.
"We don't have the resources to provide the services we would like to, as it is," Ogden said.
Ogden went on to give as another reason for not wanting the bill to pass that Yuma County already has a border patrol presence charged with handling illegal immigration activities.
Fazz also expressed a concern that the measure would hamper crime investigations in border communities.
"My guess would be they would be afraid to deal with any sort of authority if they are here illegally," Fazz said. "The Border Patrol, sheriff's (office) and police are all authority figures and they would hesitate to have any dealings with them for fear of being detained."
Somerton police Chief Terry Hollis and San Luis police Chief Heriberto Bejarano were not available for comment.
The bill went before a House Judiciary immigration subcommittee hearing last month, which represents the first hurdle for the bill to pass.
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These clowns are way to gutless to be law enforcement officers and need to be redirected (fired) to a more suitable occupation.
1)when you start asking people if they are documented or undocumented, you're taking chances on alienating a whole bunch of people."
2) local law enforcement agencies such as police and sheriff's departments don't have authority to arrest people for violating immigration laws,
3)"We don't have the resources to provide the services
4)Fazz also expressed a concern that the measure would hamper crime investigations in border communities
People won't like us (cops). No jusidiction. Not enough cops. Victims will be afraid to report crimes.
Maybe it's time that cops in that sector were federalized.
2nd Amendment consideration for security since our State & Federal government refuse to protect its citizens from the invasion from the south.
I rememeber some 10 years or so ago, when the City of Chandler, AZ, had a "round up," asking those of hispanic looks, ect...about their citizenship, ect... My goodness, did the frijoles fly, with all of the "racial profiling" screaming and such. I think Chandler ended up getting sued because too many feelings were hurt.
Too bad, because although it's getting better, there are still parts of downtown that are a barrio, and need fumigating.
Perhaps with legislation, they (the locals) will have more protection.
Editor,
Regarding the article headlined “Yuma cops uneasy with arresting illegal aliens”, I have some things I’d like to say.
First, in the article, you quote Sheriff Ogden as saying that “the new bill is a result of a bad immigration policy, and would basically turn his deputies into Border Patrol agents if passed.” Well, what’s wrong with that? Is there really that much crime in Yuma that isn’t the result of illegal aliens?
Next, I’d like you to turn your attention to the shootout that occurred on I-10 last week just north of Casa Grand. That event left 4 dead, 5 wounded, and a Tucson Fire Chief in the hospital as a result of a rear-end collision with a tractor-trailer rig…a collision that probably would not have happened if traffic had not been stopped to figure out why 4 dead Mexicans littered the highway median.
For those who have yet to take the blinders off their eyes, this event was just the tip of the iceberg and is proof positive that illegal immigration, people smuggling, and a total lack of respect for American laws is perhaps the greatest threat to public safety in our state today.
You article suggests that Sheriff Ogden doesn’t see reality the same way I do. He says he’s afraid of upsetting Yuma’s Hispanic community. I would suggest that Yuma’s (Anglo-American, Spanish-American, Asian-American, European-American, African-American, you name it) community is somewhat miffed at the lawlessness evidenced in Pinal County.
I would also suggest anything Sheriff Ogden does to eliminate this criminal element from his corner of our state would be greatly appreciated by the Arizonans who elected him to office. If he doesn’t appreciate our concerns, well…perhaps your article misstated his feelings. Or perhaps I read it wrong. Or perhaps the voters of Yuma won’t see things the way I do.
The question is, can Yuma afford to ignore this problem? I don’t think so.
Sincerely
(HiJinx)
Sierra Vista, AZ
These aliens are already alien-ated from our culture and will continue to be alienated. Can they become even more alien-ated?
My head is spinning.
Too much moon-gazing tonight, I guess.
Leni
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