Thread: PA: Local authorities may prosecute illegal aliens

Local authorities may prosecute illegal aliens
BY JOHN MESSEDER - Times staff writer
Apr 28, 2007
Local authorities Friday differed with a Superior Court judge’s comments about inability of local and county justice system to prosecute illegal aliens.

“The short answer is that any police officer has the right to arrest any person, including an illegal alien, if they are violating the Pennsylvania Crimes Code,” said Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner.

In comments to the Adams County Republican Committee Thursday evening, Superior Court Judge Corry Stevens said federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities routinely tell local and state police to turn illegal aliens loose, rather than have agents drive to where the suspects are being held to assume custody.

“If you drive without a license or insurance, you can be sure you will pay the consequences,” Stevens said. “Not so with the illegals.”

“How many violent criminals have been set free to roam our neighborhoods, by the (federal) policy of non-enforcement?” he queried.

Steven said if police stop a vehicle for a traffic violation and determine the occupants are illegal aliens, federal law requires them to call immigration authorities, who typically order the aliens’ release.

Not so, said Wagner.

http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/news/front1.shtml

“If you drive without a license or insurance, you can be sure you will pay the consequences,” Stevens said. “Not so with the illegals.”

No American would receive such treatment, especially if you get caught driving w/o insurance. In Utah, if you are caught driving w/o insurance, it is now a $600 fine, and you have to be issued an SR-22 high risk insurance for a mandatory of three years. You can imagine the premiums you would pay being in the highest risk class of drivers. What is even more interesting is that if you lapse on your insurance during these three years, the county will contact you, and if they can't get ahold of you, they will start to send out the Sheriff to your home. Of course, this is only if you try to do it legally. Obviously illegals deserve better treatment than Americans.

I think this reflects an enforcement system that is simply overwhelmed. The flood of illegals has been ignored for so many years. It is going to take a deep national commitment to turn this mess around and, as yet, I don't see any viable leadership on the horizon.