Thread: IN: Attorney general joins group opposing Indiana immigratio

Attorney general joins group opposing Indiana immigration bill

INDYSTAR.com
February 9, 2011

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined religious, business and education leaders today in endorsing a pact that says immigration should be reformed at the federal level, not the state.

The signing of the "Indiana Compact" by Zoeller and the others comes on the same day that a Senate committee will debate a wide-ranging bill to crack down on illegal immigration.

The bill is similar to a controversial law in Arizona, now being challenged by the federal government.

Among other things it requires state and local law enforcement who stop anyone for violating a law or ordinance to ask for proof that the person is here legally if there is "reasonable suspicion" to believe they are not.

The hearing on that bill, Senate Bill 590, is at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate chamber.

Zoeller said that as attorney general "I am obliged to defend the laws passed by the Indiana General Assembly, but I urge all legislators to consider carefully the appropriate role in our federal system of limited government."

While he shares the frustrations of many that the federal government has failed to adequately address illegal immigration, he said, "we must be realistic about the costs of the state superimposing itself onto a federal enforcement responsibility."

The compact was signed at a Statehouse event this morning.

Among other backers are Catholic Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, Rabbi Dennis Sasso, Butler University President Bobby Fong, Marian University President Daniel Elsner, and numerous groups including the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Farm Bureau, the Indiana Bankers Association and the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The compact, organized by the Alliance for Immigration Reform in Indiana, states that "immigration is a federal policy issue between the U.S. government and other countries -- not Indiana and other countries."

It calls for border security and respect for the rule of law, but also says that "law enforcement should focus on criminal activities, not civil violations of federal code."

It "opposes policies that unnecessarily separate families" and says the state should adopt a humane approach to illegal immigrants.

U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis, was not at the event, but an aide read a statement in which he called SB 590, sponsored by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, an "ill-advised" bill that could hurt Indiana businesses and send the wrong message about Indiana.

http://www.indystar.com/article/2011020 ... /1001/NEWS

Mr. State Attorney General,
You do not get to decide what laws you like and dont like. Nor do you get to decide which laws you will or will not enforce. you are to enforce every law on the books and your not suppose to be taking sides against any legislation