Posted on 08/23/2005 3:15:30 PM PDT by HiJinx
Capitol Media Services
PHOENIX - The nation's homeland security chief said Monday he wants help from the state Department of Public Safety on immigration issues - but not necessarily the help originally offered by Gov. Janet Napolitano.
In a letter Monday to the governor, Michael Chertoff told Napolitano he wants the DPS to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in enforcing federal immigration laws.
Chertoff specifically offered to have four DPS undercover officers work with task forces which target human smuggling in the Phoenix area. He said there are now two such task forces in Arizona; his plan would put two DPS officers into each, under the direction of ICE.
Chertoff acknowledged that idea has been rejected in the past.
But he said it works toward his goal of "an integrated approach to developing federal and state investigations and a rapid combined response."
He also asked to have DPS officers work with Border Patrol agents both at checkpoints and "roving patrols" both on Interstate 10 near Casa Grande and Interstate 8 in the Gila Bend area.
Neither of these, however, address the specific proposal by Napolitano to have DPS officers trained in federal immigration laws and paired off with ICE officers to help transport those not here legally to federal detention centers.
Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Chertoff is more interested in a "comprehensive proposal" to deal with issues of illegal border crossing than solely questions of transportation.
"Applying all personnel in one location or one facet of the enforcement spectrum will only go so far," Knocke said.
But the governor told Capitol Media Services on Monday night she is "encouraged" by the fact that Chertoff is interested in working with the state.
"Obviously there's some things we need to nail down," said Napolitano. "But finally we're seeing some movement."
Napolitano said having DPS officers working to catch smugglers does not necessarily mean that they will be enforcing federal law. She has been cool to the idea of putting state and local officers in the position of doing the job that belongs to the federal government.
But the governor said that, properly handled, this would be different. "Remember that human trafficking is now a state crime as well as a federal crime," she said, pointing to legislation which became law earlier this month.
Napolitano's original offer to Chertoff was designed to deal with what she said is the "catch and release" policy forced on local law enforcement agencies who come across large groups of illegal entrants, perhaps in stopping a vehicle or responding to noise complaints at a house.
What has happened, the governor said, is local police call federal officers to pick up those whose only offense is being undocumented. But she said delays in response often force police to simply let these people go, as they are not charged with any state crimes.
Napolitano wanted to put one DPS officer into a vehicle with an ICE officer.
But Chertoff, while suggesting in his response he would welcome transportation help, appeared more interested in simply having DPS do the job itself. That, he said, would "free up Border Patrol agents to perform inline detection and apprehension responsibility that maximize the use of their specialized training."
La Gubernadora is setting up roadblocks...
I guess Phoenix is not a "sanctuary city?"
No, it isn't. It is, however, a major transportation hub for illegals headed for other parts of the country.
La Goobernador doesn't want to help catch alien smugglers, and Chertoff doesn't want to take any illegals Arizona might accidentally catch.
Why am I getting the feeling that neither of them want to stop the illegal invasion?
If it's not a sanctuary city, then there's nothing stopping local or regional law enforcement from reporting and apprehending violators of federal law.
Now, if he came to Los Angeles and challenged the "sanctuary city" policy, that would be interesting ...
I know the governor doesn't...I'm taking a wait-and-see with Chertoff...but not for long.
I know...
Actually, today's paper surprised me. Set-up: we are a town of a little over 40,000 sitting just 15 miles north of the International Border.
This article was above the fold. Along the right side from top to bottom was an article about the Bisbee police department getting involved with helping the Feds halt illegal-immigration related crime, and between this headline and the body of this article was a red text box listing three more illegal immigration related stories on pages A5-A8.
That's a first for us...and an indication that our paper is continuing to acknowledge that we have a problem...and that it is receiving national attention.
That's good news. For those of us down in the trenches we must keep doing battle without let-up all the time hoping more fellow Americans will join us in this long and tiresome battle as they start to awaken from their sleepy eyed slumber and have their homesteads encumbered with tax levies when they can no longer pay their exorbitant tax bills due to the explosive tax growth to pay for Americas illegal and univited guests.
Easy for you to say! Was there any punctuation in there, besides the first period?
Seriously, well said. More and more the cost is transferred to those of us who pay taxes, to the point where a tax revolt may be the solution.
Gotta head out...will check back tomorrow.
BTTT
L.A. = illegal alien heaven.
If he really wanted to do some good he would disguise these undercover officers as day laborers and start busting the criminals who were giving them jobs. A few arrests for employment law violations and tax evasion at the day laborer congregation points would end that practice in a hurry.
The real answer is a multi-faceted approach...plug the dike, drain the swamp. And punish the American law-breakers.
First and foremost, gain the upper hand on the border. Seal it so that you can only cross at a Port of Entry.
Then, start detaining and deporting illegal aliens whenever they come in contact with public officials - in any capacity.
And, institute your suggestion of tracking down and punishing those who knowingly hire illegals. Tax evasion is a good way to do that.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.