Illegal immigration is right up there with the most important regional, state and federal issues for me. That being said, I don't expect local police agencies to do sweeps. Sweeps are the job of federal officials.
Local police agencies do have their hands full with local law enforcement. You can't just stop that enforcement to focus on federal law enforcement IMO.
If the Fresno police department does run immigration status checks along with background checks once a person is incarcerated, that's good. Holding the individual for immigration services is good.
This does sound reasonable to me. Good for Fresno. Good for us.
I have pondered what I want an officer to do that finds a person to be an illegal on the street. It's a tough issue.
If there is a pariah on the street (not referring to illegals here), then I do want even illegals to be able to approach the police to get that person off the street. Citizen and illegal alike would be at risk if they didn't. For that reason alone, I am uncomfortable with police checking the status of individuals on the street. Even illegals need to be able to approach the police.
No matter what my feelings are about the legitimacy of illegal aliens being here, I do not want them abused or seriously injured. I simply want them to repatriate themselves to their nation of origion and stop sapping our system dry.
...however, once they are booked into jail efforts are made to determine their legal status and if they are found to be here illegally then Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) is notified and an "Immigration Hold" is placed on them.
However, we will arrest those who have an outstanding felony warrant for violating immigration laws. That is someone who was deported and then returns and a warrant is issued for their arrest. Again, ICE is brought in on these issues.
Thats BS I have seen local law enforcement take their oath it curtails following the US constitution foriegn and domestic.