Officials slam plan to ban arrests of illegals


By KEVIN LANDRIGAN, Telegraph Staff
klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007

CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Thomas Colantuono, four federal immigration agents and three police chiefs warned Tuesday that a proposed bill would block state and local law enforcement officials from going after suspected terrorists who were also illegal immigrants.

Colantuono said the state might also risk the loss of up to $200,000 that local communities and the state get from the federal government for detaining foreign-born residents unlawfully in this country.

“It is unrealistic in the way law enforcement operates in the 21st century in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,â€