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Legislators Object to Allowing State and Local Police to Arrest Illegal Aliens
Univision.com ^ | 05-24-02 | Notimex

Posted on 05/24/2002 1:55:58 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: illegals; immigration
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To: browardchad
"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"

I think you are probabely right. However, currently the police are not arresting immigrants, nor do they want to get in the business of arresting immigrants. I think this ruling would give the INS some ability to force the locals to cooperate.

If you are from Florida, maybe you can tell me if the two republicans mentioned are of Cuban decent and if they are why would they be throwing in with mainly a Mexican desire.

21 posted on 05/24/2002 3:23:37 PM PDT by FreedomSurge
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To: FreedomSurge
This action speaks for itself, I would suppose. It is hardly likely to reassure anyone who has expressed concern as to the future loyalty of new immigrants coming into America from countries other than those, which provided the genetic pool from which our traditional culture emerged.

It seems that when in doubt, these Congressmen will side with their cousins, whether here legally or not. And yet to have been elected to Congress, one has to assume that these Congressmen represent the most assimilated available of their respective ethnic groups.

I have no disrespect for Mexicans--indeed follow the career of several Mexican boxers, with warm appreciation for their skill and courage. But America is basically a land that reflects an Anglo-Saxon, Celtic heritage, enhanced but not changed by Dutch, Germans, French, Italians, Poles, etc., but still basically a reflection of those original Anglo-Saxon, Celtic values.

There is surely room on this Planet for both a Mexican Nation and an American Nation. We do not have to be merged, confused or confounded, to be friendly neighbors. The whole subject of immigration needs to be fully debated, without the hysteria that the compulsive Left always interjects. (See Immigration & The American Future.)

In the meanwhile, I would hope that some of these Congressmen would rethink where there loyalties and interests should now be. Honor is not served by selling short the interests of hospitable people who took you into a Society that they and their forefathers had honorably established.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

22 posted on 05/24/2002 3:23:48 PM PDT by Ohioan
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To: Ohioan
The vast majority of the illegal immigrants have come here only for economic reasons. They have their own culture which they like just fine and vastly different from ours. (If you want some proof, go watch "Y Tu Mama Tambien" playing in a theatre near you).

As a nation, Why do we want to bring in vast numbers who do not hold things such as the constitution and its bill of rights sacred?

23 posted on 05/24/2002 3:38:00 PM PDT by FreedomSurge
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To: browardchad
They can and did for decades up until just a few years ago. This whole nonsense about local cops can't enforce federal immigration laws is just that, nonsense. The La Raza reconquista front simply repeats it over and over until the soft brains start believing it.

Every time it's been in front of a Federal District judge or Appellate judge the decision has been forceful that they can and should enforce the laws.

In the '70s, when illegals were just starting to come in large numbers, it was easy to identify them: they always did exactly the speed limit, because they didn't want to get stopped by the cops.

Now I assume they have drag races with the cops because not only will they not get deported, I'm sure the state legislatures will exempt them from traffic violations since they don't have licenses. I mean, that would be "hurtful" and "mean spirited" and "nativist" and "xenophobic"...(madness ensues, sound of screaming..)

24 posted on 05/24/2002 3:38:17 PM PDT by Regulator
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To: FreedomSurge
The ethnic panders are in favor of every one but the hardworking and law-abiding Americans they are supposed to represent. Let's have the police arrest them and lock them up while they arrest and deport their illegal alien friends.
25 posted on 05/24/2002 3:41:50 PM PDT by goldstategop
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To: FreedomSurge
If you are from Florida, maybe you can tell me if the two republicans mentioned are of Cuban decent and if they are why would they be throwing in with mainly a Mexican desire.

Both are of Cuban descent, and I'd make a safe guess that they are aligning themselves with other Hispanic groups (not only Mexicans) for one simple reason: votes. South Florida has had a tremendous influx of illegal Latin Americans, to name just one group.

26 posted on 05/24/2002 3:46:09 PM PDT by browardchad
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To: FreedomSurge
The push for liberal immigration laws comes in large measure from those who want to destroy each people's sense of their own identity. It is part of the pursuit of an undifferentiated humanity. For the basics of this mindset, you might consider Myths & Myth Makers In American "Higher" Education, noting that the first section, which deals with Lord Keynes has to do with economic myths; but the rest is in point.

William Flax

27 posted on 05/24/2002 3:49:38 PM PDT by Ohioan
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To: browardchad
Just out of curiosity, Is Miami in essence the capital of South America? It seems that a tremendous number of Venezualians and Colombians have moved there recently. In addition quite a number of Mexican actors and actresses live there.
28 posted on 05/24/2002 3:53:20 PM PDT by FreedomSurge
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To: FreedomSurge
Profile. Identify. Expel.
29 posted on 05/24/2002 4:24:55 PM PDT by Savage Beast
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To: Lindy111
bump
30 posted on 05/24/2002 4:28:55 PM PDT by FreedomSurge
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To: FreedomSurge; Victoria Delsoul; Pelham; Travis McGee; Joe Hadenuf; sarcasm; harpseal; RonDog...
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.

Why don't I see any concern about the negative impact on the realtionship between the police and actual citizens that this malfeasance on Illegals engenders?

Oh, that's right... We pay the bills and only vote once.




31 posted on 05/24/2002 4:35:16 PM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: Sabertooth
WOW are you on edge today or something? You look like you are about to pounce :>))
32 posted on 05/24/2002 4:38:10 PM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: Sabertooth
"Oh, that's right... We pay the bills and only vote once."

What if there was a political party oriented towards tax payers and law abiders??????

33 posted on 05/24/2002 4:46:41 PM PDT by FreedomSurge
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To: FreedomSurge
What if there was a political party oriented towards tax payers and law abiders??????

What if there was such an electoral system?




34 posted on 05/24/2002 4:49:10 PM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: FreedomSurge
Just out of curiosity, Is Miami in essence the capital of South America?

The entire state is about 17% Hispanic-Latino origin. That breaks down to 2.3% Mexican, 3% Puerto Rican, 5.2% Cuban, 6.3% “Other” (which would include Latin-Americans and South-Americans).

Miami-Dade is 57% Hispanic-Latino(1.7% Mexican; 3.6 Puerto Rican; 28.9 Cuban; 23.2 “Other Hispanic.”)

Broward is about 17% (1.2% Mexican, 3.4% Puerto Rican, 3.1% Cuban, 9% “Other Hispanic”).

These stats are from the 2000 Census.

35 posted on 05/24/2002 4:53:29 PM PDT by browardchad
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To: al_possum39
I believe that it would be better for the police to hold them rather than, say, a vigilante group. But if government doesn't fill the vacuum in this area and another incident occurs, I'm afraid someone will fill it. I don't think these congress critters have considered this.
36 posted on 05/24/2002 6:48:08 PM PDT by al_possum39
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To: al_possum39
BTTT
37 posted on 05/24/2002 7:42:19 PM PDT by sarasmom
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To: browardchad
Yeah, but that will change when Castro is gone. The Cubans in Florida have stated that they can't wait to go back home.

Excuse me, is my sarcasm showing?

38 posted on 05/25/2002 6:54:29 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: Sabertooth
Thanks for the ping.

You can't have victory through the legal process when congress won't abide by it. Since this country is obviously being subverted by our own congress people and rapidly colonized and annexed by Mexico, then I say BLOAT is in order. If they are going to take this country, then they ought to have to spill blood for it.

39 posted on 05/25/2002 10:26:04 PM PDT by Lion's Cub
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