Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Little Birdie, Do Tell!
A little birdie told me this week that the city of Marshalltown police department might...might...be granted a waiver and/or approval to conduct immigration enforcement soon.
I hope it does happen.
It's very difficult for most police and sheriff departments to investigate illegal immigrants. The most they can do is pull them over on a traffic violation and determine their status then. Even if they know people are illegal, there's not much local police can do about it.
The Marshalltown PD Chief, Lon Walker is apparently seeking the authorization. The ACLU, of course, will be watching intently given the recent news out of Rhode Island:
Police Sued For Capturing Illegal Immigrants - January 9th
Police Enforcement of Immigration Laws Raises Worry - Washington Post
You really should read the entire story from above. It's full of screaming and whining on behalf of illegal immigrant advocates worried that the new permission will cause many to leave town...and undue hardship on behalf of illegals.
Boo hoo...
Expect the same kind of articles when/if Marshalltown gets the same authority. Keep an eye out on the Des Moines Register for this one. They'll be all over it.
I hope it does happen.
It's very difficult for most police and sheriff departments to investigate illegal immigrants. The most they can do is pull them over on a traffic violation and determine their status then. Even if they know people are illegal, there's not much local police can do about it.
The Marshalltown PD Chief, Lon Walker is apparently seeking the authorization. The ACLU, of course, will be watching intently given the recent news out of Rhode Island:
Police Sued For Capturing Illegal Immigrants - January 9th
When Rhode Island State Trooper Thomas Chabot confirmed that 14 Guatemalans in the van he had stopped for a traffic violation on Richmond’s Route 95 were illegal aliens, he contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A renowned civil rights organization (ACLU) accused Chabot of racial profiling and immediately demanded an investigation.Very few police departments have any authority whatsoever in conducting immigration investigations - as was highlighted in a story last October:
This week that organization, the ACLU, filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Rhode Island State Police alleging that racial profiling and violation of the constitutional rights of 14 Guatemalan nationals during the stop led to their detention by immigration officials.
Police Enforcement of Immigration Laws Raises Worry - Washington Post
...Herndon's (Virginia) new mayor or Town Council...want police to become la migra, federal immigration agents...I find it amazing that only...
Herndon's council voted last week to apply to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for enrollment in the agency's "Section 287(g)" program, which trains local police officers to determine whether criminal suspects in custody are illegal immigrants. Officers certified by the program can detain them and even begin deportation proceedings before turning cases over to the federal agency.
Seven state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide have joined the program. A dozen more are seeking to enroll officers.I couldn't confirm any police or sheriff department in Iowa as having the authority to conduct immigration enforcement. In fact, Des Moines Police are listed as opposing local law enforcement of immigration laws from what information I could gather (pdf). A few local Cedar Rapids groups like Waypoint Services are also listed as opposing it.
You really should read the entire story from above. It's full of screaming and whining on behalf of illegal immigrant advocates worried that the new permission will cause many to leave town...and undue hardship on behalf of illegals.
Boo hoo...
Expect the same kind of articles when/if Marshalltown gets the same authority. Keep an eye out on the Des Moines Register for this one. They'll be all over it.
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