Legislators Object to Allowing State and Local Police to Arrest Illegal Aliens

Univision.com ^ | 05-24-02 | Notimex

[FreedomSurge]

Washington – In an unusual demonstration of bipartisanship, Hispanic both Republican and democratic legislators have closed ranks to oppose the authorization of state and local police to carry out immigration laws.

Plan will be a “Disaster”

“We are calling on President Bush and the Attorney General John Ashcroft to stop persuing a plan that is not only ill-conceived, but just won’t work”, congressman Robert Menendez D-NJ said Thursday.

Menendez, vice president of the House Hispanic caucus, insisted that the anticipated authorization from the Department of Justice granting local police the authority to detain undocumented immigrants would be a disaster.

He insisted that this decision, anticipated to come out very shortly, opens the door to potential abuses at the hands of police and besides would be a mistaken response that also would lend itself to discriminatory acts against Hispanics.

“Stopping a person as a suspect only because of their appearance in no way is the way we will make this country more secure”, stated the congressman in front of reporters and other democrat Hispanic reporters during a news conference.

Menendez said that in addition to these considerations, there exists open opposition from the police departments of Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, San Diego, Miami, Nueva York, and Washington, due to the operational problems that this decision would bring.

Opposition from both parties

For his part, Jose Serano, democrat congressman from Nueva York, warned that measures of this kind would negatively impact the relationship between police and immigrant communities who are already reluctant to report crimes.

“If we take a step back, and be honest, How can we expect that the INS, with the problems they already have in doing their own work, would be able to supervise local police?” asked the congressman.

Serano revealed that opposition to this measure has also included Republican congressmen from Florida, Illeana Ross Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz Balart “because like our selves they feel that this would have a negative impact on Hispanic immigrants.”

Ashcrofts’ decision, which has been postponed from last month, is derived form an opinion that was issued weeks ago by the Office of Legal Cousel of the Department of Justice, as part of the recommended actions to confront the terrorist menace.

According to the opinion, the state and municipal governments as “sovereign entities” have the “inherent authority” to carry out immigration laws, a power reserved to the federal government through the INS.

The eventual action by the Department of Justice will take place under the auspices of the Immigration Law of 1996, which authorizes the Attorney General to delegate these powers to state and local police during times of migratory emergency.

[FreedomSurge]

The translation is mine.

I found this interesting for the following reasons:

1. Even though this is off of the Univision site, it is a Notimex article. Notimex is the Mexican government wire service.
   

2. The reaction of the Republican congressmen. Even though the ones mentioned in the article Hispanic (Cuban?) and must pander to their own constituency, by wanting to give aid and comfort to law breakers they are selling out Republicans nationwide.
   

3. My own Republican Senator, John Ensign, has come out for amnesty for illegal’s because they “share our values”. As a bit of history, Ensign lost to Senate Whip Harry Reid by about 500 votes in 1998. Harry Reid easily got 500 illegal alien votes in that election. Ensign, being the typical Republican, instead of screaming bloody murder or even working openly or behind the scenes to prevent voter fraud, has embraced illegals in order to gain a few votes. In the mean time, the Democrats control the senate.
   

4. Notice how the word “immigrant” is always used to reference the illegals. Never temporary worker, seasonal worker etc. Immigrant means they are here permanently.

[FreedomSurge]

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[FreedomSurge]

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[mgc1122]

Add a couple of more names to the list of those who have no interest in protecting our nation's economic or security ... preferring to pander to the common demoninator.

[Tacis]

Illegal aliens are criminals who are here in violations of the laws of our country. Treat them like any other lawbreaker, no matter how many of them cluster together.

[Brownie74]

In an unusual demonstration of bipartisanship, Hispanic both Republican and democratic legislators have closed ranks to oppose the authorization of state and local police to carry out immigration laws.

Add this to your list.

It's not about bipartisan politics. It's about La Raza!!

[rellimpank]

--I am missing something on this controversy on local police being allowed to enforce inmmigration law pertaining to illegal aliens. Before the ink was dry on the Lautenberg federal legislation prohibiting possession of firearms even when accused of "domestic violence", the local cops enforced it on one of my employees who had been accused of assault by a former girlfriend--what's the difference?

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

These legislators think the illegals will be votes for them.They are selling out AMERICA for votes and that should be a crime.

[Hacksaw]

Bob Menendez is perhaps the biggest race baiter in the house, even more that Maxine Waters. He is anti American and a racist to boot.

[FreedomSurge]

"It's not about bipartisan politics. It's about La Raza!!"

What was odd to me was that the Republicans mentioned are, I think, Cuban. This legislation affects mainly Mexicans so I am not sure why they would fall in line with their Democrat collegues.

By the way, even though some will tell you "La Raza" is a fringe group and in many ways it is, never never discount the power of these groups. After all, fringe goups such as NOW have rewritten vast amounts of our legal code which affects nearly every business and individual in the US.

[FreedomSurge]

"Add a couple of more names to the list of those who have no interest in protecting our nation's economic or security ... preferring to pander to the common demoninator."

Good point. The purpose of the ruling was to allow the US to fight terrorism. What is their alternative?

[robertpaulsen]

Where do they get this "Nueva York" cr*p? Jeez Louise. They haven't taken over yet, and until they do, they can learn to speak English!

And illegal immigration may be a federal issue, but so is kidnapping and bank robbery, and I don't see the local police backing off those crimes.

[FreedomSurge]

"Bob Menendez is perhaps the biggest race baiter in the house, even more that Maxine Waters. He is anti American and a racist to boot."

Yeah, but who is going to stand up to him. I know my Senator won't. He feels he learned his lesson.

[al_possum39]

I don't understand why states need permission to hold illegals. They may be required to allow citizens of other states or legal visitors to be in their borders but what (in the Constitution) requires them to allow illegals within their borders?

[browardchad]

He insisted that this decision, anticipated to come out very shortly, opens the door to potential abuses at the hands of police

And arming airline pilots would open the door to potential abuses at the hands of pilots.

"Abuse" at this point in our history, refers only to the punishment and/or apprehension of minorities, particularly those who have entered the country illegally, or who happen to be in the act of commandeering aircraft with the intention of flying them into skyscrapers.

[Frohickey]

These legislators are one US terrorist attack away from having to eat crow.

[FreedomSurge]

"Where do they get this "Nueva York" cr*p? Jeez Louise. They haven't taken over yet, and until they do, they can learn to speak English!"

But in some ways they have taken over. The Senate is controlled by Democrats because of illegal voters. Only few lone voices will stand up and challenge the likes of Menendez.

[FreedomSurge]

"I don't understand why states need permission to hold illegals."

I think it is an issue of the INS being able to ask the local authorities to arrest the immigrants.

[browardchad]

I don't understand why states need permission to hold illegals

I don't believe they do. The phrase "a power reserved to the federal government through the INS" is bogus, IMHO. In actuality, a state has every right to apprehend illegals, unless a specific state law prohibits it.

[FreedomSurge]

"And arming airline pilots would open the door to potential abuses at the hands of pilots."

Good analogy. I wonder how many tragedies must take place before the left will stop railing against nearly non-existent abuses.