Posted on 04/29/2002 1:41:19 AM PDT by sarcasm
WASHINGTON -- In a rare disagreement, White House and Justice Department officials are divided over whether to declare that local and state police departments have the power to track down illegal immigrants as a new tactic in the global war on terror.
If adopted as policy, an opinion by the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department would reverse a long-standing legal tradition and allow local police officers to make arrests for civil violations of immigration law, such as overstaying visas.
A 1996 opinion by the legal counsel's office precluded local officers from tracking down illegal immigrants, and a draft memorandum last November by the same office supported that conclusion. Federal agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service typically handle these cases.
Many police departments have voiced concern that the new Justice Department proposal would jeopardize their relations with immigrants, who would be less willing to report crimes. Authorities in Mexico and advocates for immigrants have protested to the administration that the plan would encourage racial profiling.
"This is a democracy, based on freedom, and people have a right to basic human dignity," said John Robertson, chief of police in Newark, Calif. "That means they're not going to be questioned just because of their appearance."
The White House has generally supported Attorney General John Ashcroft's aggressive role in combating terrorism since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11.
But White House officials expressed concern this month when Ashcroft seemed poised to declare the internal legal ruling as administration policy before fully reviewing the plan and its potential fallout with White House aides.
"Consultations need to be had on something like this so the White House knows more about it, and to make sure it's not abused," said one administration official, who said White House officials felt "blindsided" by news media reports this month about the proposal.
One senior administration official said that unless modified significantly, the proposal could lead to racial profiling and lawsuits resulting from police abuses, strain relations with Latin American nations, and alienate Hispanic voters who Republicans are courting for the midterm elections in November.
"It is not a well-thought-out proposal," the official said.
High-level deputies from the White House, Justice Department, immigration service and other agencies have had a flurry of meetings over the past three weeks in an effort to tamp down the dispute and forge a consensus that can be presented to President Bush and his top aides.
This is not the first time Ashcroft's intention of pursuing potential terrorist threats has put him at odds with state and local law enforcement agencies. In the months after Sept. 11, some police chiefs resisted Ashcroft's request that they help interview thousands of Middle Eastern men, expressing concern that the plan seemed like racial profiling.
The way I see it, anyone should be able to arrest illegals.
Ah hum...AAAGGGGHHHHHHH There I feel better now.
What is there about this White House that cannot understand criminal behavior? From protecting the excesses of the Clintons to illegal immigration, the administration acts as though it is the legislative and executive body. What happened to the balance of powers that our Constitution is supposed to provide?
It is very apparent that the Federal government is doing nothing to protect the public from terrorists entering our country. The very least they could do is give the local authorities the means to take care of the job the Feds should be doing.
So what? That's one of the risks you take when you decide to become a criminal.
Remember this? The worst kind of profiling... compliments of guess who.
...and lawsuits resulting from police abuses, strain relations with Latin American nations,
Boink Mexico.
and alienate Hispanic voters who Republicans are courting for the midterm elections in November.
Pander express. Bottom line. Bunch of sellouts.
Mr. Bush has got to lose this love affair with Vicente Fox and Mexico. California is looking more and more like Mexico North.
If Bush loves Mexico so much, why doesn't he move there instead of having Mexico move here?
We should start walling off the borders and patrolling them militarily so that, once the illegals are out, they stay out.
Policework without questioning. Glad this guy ain't sherif in MY town.
While it may be good policy in other parts of the country, here in CA leaving the apprehension of illegals to local officials is akin to leaving the fox in charge of the proverbial henhouse.
I would love to see them try it. Unlike Bush, our Constitution and the law means something to me and I will do what I have to do.
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