http://news.bostonherald.com/localPolit ... eid=171972

Mitt pact OKs trooper arrests of illegals: Deval vows reversal
By Casey Ross
Boston Herald Reporter
Thursday, December 14, 2006 - Updated: 01:56 AM EST

Gov. Mitt Romney has signed a deal with the feds to let state police arrest illegal aliens, but Gov.-elect Deval Patrick said he will immediately seek to undue the pact when he takes office next month.
“If I can, I do intend to rescind this agreement,” Patrick said yesterday. He said troopers have “enough to do already” and said the policy could “compromise public safety” by making illegals reluctant to cooperate with police.
Romney, who is angling for a 2008 presidential run, aggressively pursued the deal in recent months, saying states should assist the federal government in enforcing immigration laws. Troopers cannot now detain people on immigration violations on their own authority. They must contact immigration authorities to inquire about the person’s status and can only make arrests if asked to do so.


“We respect Deval Patrick’s point of view, but rescinding this agreement will leave a hole in the state’s homeland security plan,” Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said. “Empowering the state police to detain immigration violators does not add to or detract from their normal responsibilities.”
The agreement gives troopers the power to arrest illegals they encounter in criminal investigations. If an arrest is made, troopers also could initiate deportation proceedings. Similar agreements are in place in some other states, including Alabama and Florida and certain counties in North Carolina and California. Romney said 30 troopers from the violent fugitive apprehension squad, the criminal investigation section, the anti-gang unit, the drug enforcement unit and the community action team will begin specialized training early next year.