Thread: Local Cops Should Enforce Immigration Laws

Gregory D. Lee
June 9, 2008

Local Cops Should Enforce Immigration Laws


Ask any U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent about his job, and he or she will tell you that the vast majority of people they investigate and arrest for drug trafficking are primarily criminal illegal aliens from Mexico.

Having spent half my 20-year career with the DEA assigned to the Los Angeles division, I arrested my share of Mexican nationals. On one of the few occasions I arrested a Caucasian American citizen, other agents walking by the holding cell did double takes when they saw him. That’s how rare it is for the DEA to arrest an American citizen for major drug trafficking.

Please don’t misunderstand; Mexican nationals don’t have a monopoly on U.S drug trafficking. I’ve worked cases involving Cubans, Iranians, Venezuelans, Thais, Chinese, Cambodians, Nigerians, Frenchmen, Britons, Canadians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Israelis, Bolivians and, of course Colombians, who control the cocaine trade. But the overwhelming number of Mexican nationals I arrested far exceeded all others combined.

Once I posed undercover as a drug trafficker to negotiate the purchase of two kilograms of black tar heroin from a Mexican illegal alien. The suspect proudly told me he was the nephew of Rafael Caro-Quintero, the drug cartel leader who kidnapped, tortured and brutally murdered DEA special agent Enrique “Kikiâ€

Personally, I just printed this article for a meeting with our Police Chief concerning 287(g) program. I highly suggest that anyone working on local issues copy and print and save this article on your word processing. I guarantee you if you have problems in your town you'll wish you had. It will give you backup from someone who has lived it.

Might be a good guy for an interview on your radio program William.

I agree 100% with him!

The Common Claim that Illegal Immigration is a Federal Dilemma:

An "urban legend" that has unfortunately been widely disseminated holds that states and local jurisdictions cannot tackle the problem of illegal immigration, since it is solely under federal control. Legislators and members of the public cling to this legend when confronted with the enormous consequences of unchecked illegal immigration. This allegation is entirely false.

Undeniably, the United States Congress has ultimate and prevailing authority over immigration. U.S. Const., Art. 1, §8, Cl. 4. Furthermore, it is accurate that any state legislation or local ordinance that conflicts with or contradicts federal statutes is preempted by the Supremacy Clause. U.S. Const., Art IV, Cl. 2. However, the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), enacted by Congress in 1986, expressly delineates aspects of illegal immigration that can be targeted. Pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §1324a(h)(2), states and localities are not preempted from enforcing "licensing or other similar laws" targeting the rampant illegal immigration crisis.

IRLI has been advocating that states and local jurisdictions are not preempted in the above-mentioned areas and this reasoning was affirmed by two federal judges discussed above (Arizona and Missouri federal victories). These findings should further embolden states and local jurisdictions that they have viable options to target the illegal immigration problem since the federal government is choosing not to enforce its law. States and localities can and should take matters into their own hands.

–Immigration Reform Law Institute http://www.irli.org/bulletin02_0308.html

Excellent common sense article.

Thanks for posting Gogo.

Originally Posted by jean

Excellent common sense article.

Thanks for posting Gogo.

You're welcome. I like it when it comes from the voice of experience and the feet on the ground in the fray of this.