Butler joining immigration trend

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... /309010031

WASHINGTON – Early on, states and municipalities showed little interest in enforcing federal immigration laws, though Congress gave them limited authority to do so 11 years ago.

Not any more.

Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones is one of a growing list of mayors, police chiefs, sheriffs and state law enforcement agencies across the U.S. who have been clamoring for the Bush administration to train some of their officers in immigration law and procedures.


With efforts to write new immigration laws stalled in Washington, some state and local officials want to help weed out the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country.

By getting some of their officers schooled in immigration law – rather than attempting to pass local anti-immigration laws – states and municipalities are opting for a less controversial approach that has the blessing of Congress and hasn’t yet been challenged in court.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office could be approved for the federal partnership any time now, making it the first Ohio police agency to have immigration enforcement powers.

Sheriff Jones, an outspoken advocate for tougher immigration enforcement, has been working on this issue for a year and a half. He signed an agreement about 10 days ago and is waiting for the federal immigration agency to sign off.

“I want to do what the feds can’t do,â€