Posted on 09/07/2005 8:31:28 PM PDT by 11th_VA
(AP) NEW YORK The Department of Justice believes that state and local police have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws. That’s according to a government memo released today by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU said the Justice Department opinion makes the unprecedented legal argument that state and local law enforcement officers can arrest anyone who violates a federal law.
A Justice Department spokesman had no immediate comment.
A coalition of civil and immigrants’ rights groups received the 2002 memo under court order in July after suing to force the Justice Department to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
Then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and his staff had used the memo to justify a decision to let local police arrest people after encounters if they were found to have committed civil immigration violations, such as overstaying a visa.
The ACLU said the memo stretched the definition of local police officers roles so far that it could be used to justify giving them the right to enforce the U.S. tax code, environmental rules and other federal laws.
The group called the result “simply absurd,” in a statement released with a copy of the memo.
The 2002 opinion reversed a 1996 letter of advice from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, which said that state and local police could enforce only criminal immigration violations such as sneaking across a border.
yup , however , I'd venture a guess that it'll seldom be the case
If local law enforcement officers can enforce federal immigration laws, why not citizens too?
ACLU = American Coalition of Lawbreakers United
Yeah, the authority to enforce the law is great. But ultimately it's ICE that has to do something about it. And what we're hearing from all of the police departments around here is that when they call ICE and say "come and get 'em", they get a resounding "yeah, like we've got time for that...".
The problem in some cases doesn't seem to be finding and catching the "migrants", the problem seems to be getting anybody to dispose of them once you've got 'em.
But hey, any ruling that flies in the face of the ACLU is a good start...
Ping.
This seems like good news however at a certain point, consider that these 'multijurisdictional' law enforcement officers may be given blue UN helmets.....
THAT is the real agenda on why the ACLU would be for such a thing....
That seems to be true of just about EVERYTHING related to government, doesn't it.
Have you guys seen this????
The immigration police - great idea, with bonuses for exceptional performance...
It would work, but there would be issues like who owns the equipment like planes, guns, etc. because you would want the freedom to change the contractor without a new buildup supplies. More of a management and training issue than a self supplier of their own gear. The supplies could be government issued.
It could work, but the will in Washington is not there because of campaign donations by the big boys. We're being sold out.
Thanks for the ping.....
The group called the result “simply absurd,” in a statement released with a copy of the memo.
But with the ACLU one must always look at all the angles...
Everyone wants other peoples' employers put out of business for hiring illegals, but not their own employers.
Would you report the company you work for if you knew it would result in the company going out of business or moving over seas?
A city's police department is usually the first to respond to a bank robbery in progress, which is a federal crime. According to the ACLU's reasoning, only the FBI or federal marshals should respond to a bank robbery in progress.
There's a problem with this?
Well there's a no brainer, cops can enforce ANY Federal Law, why not Immigration laws.
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