Thread: MA: Gov drags his heels on safety threat

Gov drags his heels on safety threat

By Holly Robichaud / The Lone Republican | Monday, March 21, 2011 |

What happens when you have a governor who is pro-illegal immigrant and weak on crime? You get public policy to the left of President Obama.

The federal government is rapidly expanding a program called Secure Communities designed by the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to screen every person who is arrested and fingerprinted to determine residency status. Sound familiar?

Before leaving office, former Gov. Mitt Romney instituted a similar program deputizing state police to assist immigration law enforcement. It was shortlived, because as soon as Gov. Deval Patrick took office, he abolished it.

ICE estimates that there are 24,000 criminal illegal immigrants at large in the commonwealth. These are people who not only broke our laws entering our country, but some are also committing other crimes such as rape, theft and assault.

Despite the public safety threat and the Obama administration’s plan to mandate Secure Communities, Patrick — the state’s number one advocate for in-state tuition breaks for illegal aliens — is moving at a snail’s pace to implement it. This month, Patrick officials started conducting statewide hearings to solicit public input on the new/old program. They will drag on until mid-July.

Tea Party activists strongly believe there is a left-leaning agenda deliberately driving the forums in order to create the false impression of public opposition, and therefore, justifying Patrick defying the Obama administration’s mandate.

“He wants to delay action hoping that these meetings will show overwhelming public support for not implementing SC. They are rigged. Panels have consisted of three people, none of whom were in favor of the program,â€

"State Sen. Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), who wants to require a driver’s license to register a car, said, “If the governor refuses to implement SC, there will be a legislative reaction to force him.â€