Posted on Mon, Dec. 17, 2007
Add immigration to troopers responsibilities
By LYNN FRANEY
The Kansas City Star

Missouri Highway Patrol troopers have lots of responsibilities.

They drive the state’s highways, stopping speeders, nabbing drug runners and untangling wrecks. They help with big criminal investigations. They protect the governor.

Now they want to take on some of the duties of federal immigration agents.

Across the country, more local and state police agencies are stepping up to help the feds find and deport illegal immigrants. So far, more than 600 officers have taken on the duties.

And thousands of jailers and beat cops have started checking the legal status of people they’re booking or arresting.

Illegal immigration opponents applaud the growing cooperation between local law enforcement and the feds, saying the country is safer when as many avenues as possible are used in finding illegal immigrants.

But immigrant-rights advocates worry that if immigrants see police as immigration enforcers, they won’t report crimes out of fear. That will make communities less safe.

“The ‘we should ask everybody’ (their immigration status) is definitely the stronger sentiment at the moment,â€