[sarcasm]

ping

[FITZ]

I wouldn't want the police going door-to-door. I think the INS should go after businesses that hire illegals as tough as the IRS goes after them for taxes. Local police should deport any illegal committing any kind of crime. Drunk drivers, hit-and-run drivers, shoplifters, there are many opportunities to arrest and deport them.

[Lion's Cub]

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.

So what? That's one of the risks you take when you decide to become a criminal.

[skeeter]

"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."

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.

[healey22]

It appears that our President wants to pick our choose which laws our local Police should enforce. Not a very good message to send out Mr. President since your stance seems to be racial profiling for the voting booth. Enforce the laws that are on the books equally if you want to be taken seriously and respected by the people who elected you.

[usadave]

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."

It would be extremely easy to set up a system for checking an individual's immigrant status that would avoid any charges of racial profiling. All you would have to do is use the same procedures that are used when setting up a sobriety checkpoint to check for intoxicated drivers. The only difference would be that you would be asking the driver and any other occupants of the vehicle for additional identification to prove that they are in the United States legally. Because of the fact that you would be checking the ID of every person in every vehicle that comes through the checkpoint, nobody could claim that racial profiling is involved.

[William Terrell]

"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."

I suppose that coral snakes and rattle snakes shouldn't be distinguished from other snakes using their appearance.

[who knows what evil?]

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.

Regardless of who has the power, they will continue to do what they have always done. Nothing.

[texson66]

Well maybe, just maybe, the Feds might finally let the locals cops in on arresting illegals! Just dont let Ashcroft call these guys:

[Travis McGee]

bttt