Free Republic

Justice: Some Florida officers to enforce immigration law Sunday, July 21, 2002 By CHRISTOPHER NEWTON, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A group of law enforcement officers in Florida will be given the ability to enforce immigration laws in cases involving terrorism and national security, Justice Department officials announced. Most local law enforcement officers do not have the authority to detain or arrest a person solely on immigration charges. Immigration advocacy groups and many police departments have long fought against police having that power, arguing that illegal immigrants will be reluctant to call police for help out of fear they might be...