Thread: Two sheriffs take opposing sides of new immigration law

Two sheriffs take opposing sides of new immigration law
Posted: Apr 28, 2010 7:13 PM CDT
Updated: Apr 28, 2010 7:49 PM CDT

By Jim Becker

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says his deputies will uphold the law, but it would be irresponsible for him to put undocumented migrants through the criminal justice system instead of turning them over to the border patrol.

"I think that would be irresponsible on my part," says Dupnik, adding his deputies have arrested more illegal immigrants than any other state or local law enforcement agency in Arizona.

But while Pinal County Sheriff's deputies patrol a couple hundred miles from the border, they frequently encounter traffickers in high speed chases.

"Not just lawlessness and disobeying law enforcement, but the threat to law enforcement has dramatically gone up," says Babeu, adding that he not only supports the new law, he asked for it.

While Dupnik says his department is 'damned if we do and damned if we don't' for enforcing the new law, to take effect in August, notwithstanding court challenges, Babeu says he won't tolerate racial profiling, making lawsuits a non-issue.

Babeu says he also supports the call to put troops on the border.

"Stop the flow of illegal immigration. Then there can be a followup discussion of what happens to the 13-million plus illegals (sic) who are here," he adds.

http://www.kold.com/global/story.asp?s=12393953

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says his deputies will uphold the law, but it would be irresponsible for him to put undocumented migrants through the criminal justice system instead of turning them over to the border patrol.

So lets say a child under the age of 16 commits a crime, would he say he should just turn the child over to the parents instead of putting them through the criminal justice system?