Posted on 02/10/2004 11:06:15 PM PST by kattracks
Edited on 07/12/2004 4:13:17 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told lawmakers yesterday that he was open to the controversial idea of using state and local police officers to help enforce the nation's immigration laws.
During a Senate hearing, several lawmakers raised the issue of additional resources for immigration enforcement, especially in light of the proposal from President Bush for a guest-worker program.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Marshall doesn't want to lose any business. Police officers have been told to ignore immigration status. Why? The government seems to be doing everything possible to pave the way for illegal aliens to continue to invade America. Police officers are supposed to enforce our laws, so why not immigration laws? Of course they should, but California officers that I know tell me that their hands are tied.
I received my California bond ballot today. The propositions and measures are asking California homeowners/taxpayers for billions of dollars to build new schools, repair existing schools, pay off old debt, etc. etc. In this invaded state the illegal aliens who are using up all our resources won't have to pay a dime for any of it. I'm voting no on everything because we're still paying for the bonds passed in the past few years, and nothing has changed.
California is begging for immigration control, but Washington's ears don't want to listen.
It's not part of their agenda. It's the same thing in North Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia, etc.
The feds are the root of this epic invasion.
You mean there's a law against that now?! Just what is it with this government?
You might be interested in this:
FAIR: National Precedent Backs Local Police Power to Arrest Illegal Aliens
U.S. Newswire 6 Oct 99 17:48
To: National Desk, Legal Reporters
Contact: David Ray of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, 202-328-7004
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 1999 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal of a landmark decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, confirming that state and local law enforcement officials are free to arrest illegal aliens to the full extent permitted by state law.
"This finally puts to rest any question local governments have about their authority to join the federal government in the fight against illegal immigration," commented Dan Stein, executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
The ruling in United States vs. Ontoniel Vasquez-Alvarez strikes down the widespread urban myth that local police have no power to arrest illegal aliens.
Vasquez-Alvarez, an illegal alien with two California felony convictions and three prior deportations to Mexico, claimed his 1998 arrest by Edmond Oklahoma police was illegal under federal law, because local police could only arrest him for immigration crimes if the INS first confirmed that he was an aggravated felon with a prior conviction for illegal reentry. The Edmond police were unaware of his record.
The rest of the article is here.
This is an excellent idea and worthy of a second term administration if it is backed up with more than just words.
There is no reason what so ever that an officer making a traffic stop or working a accident cannot arrest someone for having neither drivers license or insurance, or for being an illegal and holding them for deportation.
Open up the deportation of illegals to private enterprise and let companies bid for government, local and national, contracts to collect and move illegals to the border for deportation.
As far as protecting our borders the congress has the power to form citizen militias, there will be plenty of volunteers willing to train and guard our borders.
No, the states are still claiming that it's not their job to "bother" illegal aliens and the Feds just shrug it off.
"Part of the reason may be philosophical;"
Activist groups, immigration lawyers, employers in favor of cheap labor, sanctuary cities, etc.
Bills in the House and Senate would give state and local law-enforcement officials the power to investigate, apprehend or remove noncitizens who are illegally in the United States.
This part sounds like it would be something new, especially the removal of noncitizens part.
The measures also include financial penalties for states that do not enact legislation within two years to allow the enforcement by local authorities of federal immigration law.
Assuming this happens, and assuming it is enforced, it would put some teeth into making the states cooperate with the Feds. This is where I think the Feds flunk out:
They also provide for state and local governments to be reimbursed for some of the costs involved in detaining illegal immigrants.
It sounds like they want the cities and states to do the work, but they only want to pay for "some of the costs".
To me, it's just more blathering with the Feds doing the same old business as usual -- nothing. Doing something, anything, that appears pro-active is more important to them than any actual results.
I've been in California for a long time so perhaps I'm jaded, but I think the first cry here would be "Why are you filling up our jails with immigrants who just want a better life when you could be rounding up real criminals?"
I agree with you that the local police could be a lot of help, but with all of the activist groups out here to help the "immigrants", I'm not sure that the illegals would leave voluntarily.
This is all so frustrating to me. Grrr!
Equal treatment under the law should apply to both citizen and illegal alien alike. If they don't like it, too bad. I'm out of sympathy for the illegals and full of disgust for the government.
My sentiments exactly! The final insult is that we are forced to pay the bills for the invaders, millions of them in southern California alone. The President won't even mention that huge fact.
Well, he's not a divider, you know; he's a uniter. :-\
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