Thread: Texas Police Say 'No' to Immigration Enforcement

Texas Police Say 'No' to Immigration Enforcement
By Jordan Smith, 10:15AM, Thu. Feb. 17




El Paso Sheriff Richard WilesEl Paso Co. Sheriff Richard Wiles is not impressed, at all, by the spate of bills filed at the Capitol which would make policing immigration a job for local cops.

Not only are those measures unnecessary, but they're also dangerous he said at a morning press conference. "I'm very concerned that if we are forced into this immigration issue we're going to tear down that respect [for law enforcement] and crime will rise in our neighborhoods," he said. "And there's no reason to go down that road."

After more than enough wild talk from people like Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, who went on about anchor babies on Anderson Cooper 360 this summer, the constant barrage of blather about immigration enforcement measures from Tyler GOP Rep. Leo Berman and his cronies, and the laundry list of immigration bills filed already this session, it has come to this: Law enforcement officers from across the state are stepping forward to say enough.

This is not our job, say Wiles and other law enforcement officials including Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo, Dallas Co. Sheriff Lupe Valdez, McAllen Sheriff Victor Rodriguez and San Antonio Chief William McManus. "It's just a bad, bad idea," said McManus. He said he couldn't imagine that any of the law enforcement officers in the room had ever heard complaints about illegal immigration during community meetings – that just doesn't happen, he said.

In his comments, Acevedo was blunt: "This is not a public safety dispute," he said. "This has to do with emotion, the economy and scapegoating, from my perspective," he continued. "I want the politicians in this building to convince the professionals...convince us that this...misguided policy, not driven by intellect, will enhance public safety." (Acevedo also noted that the positions taken by officials at the presser were not new and no different than those adopted by the Major Cities Chiefs Police Association, which issued a position paper on immigration back in 2006.)

Immigration enforcement should be handled by the feds and only the feds, such that the tax burden for enforcement is borne by all taxpayers, said Wiles. It is not as though the law enforcement officials believe illegal immigration isn't a problem, noted Wiles, "People should follow the rules." But it is a federal responsibility to handle immigration enforcement and not that of local law enforcement. Just because El Paso is on the border, the city's residents shouldn't have to expend money to do the work of the country, Wiles noted. "It's a shame to see people use this issue for their [own] political expedience," he said. "Leave it to the federal government to secure our borders and handle the issue of illegal immigration and [allow local officers to] work in the neighborhood and the community to keep us safe."


http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/ne ... forcement/

Our real President, Felipe Calderon has said we will not allow law enforcement to help carry out federal immigration laws to protect Americans. Slowly but surely the corruption crossing the border is infiltrating law enforcement throughout the US. We are in trouble.....

If enforcement of our "Immigration" Laws is just a Federal responsibility why does the Federal Government have the 287g program, that trains local and state law enforcement to dal with Illegal "trespassing". Besides, this isn't really an Immigration issue, Illegal aliens are NOT Immigrants, they are Trespassers subject to Law Enforcement.

Unfortunately cpz9 local and federal law enforcement authorities abrogated their responsibility to carry out federal immigration laws including 287g (enacted by Clinton in the 5th revision of the 1986 IRCA) partly because they have been hamstrung by corrupt Injustice and Homeland Insecurity Departments who instead of carrying out this administration's Constitutionally mandated duty to secure our borders only campaigns for open borders and amnesty for illegal aliens.....

As far as i'm concerned......These sheriffs will do what they are told or they can resign and go flip burgers. They obviously don't care about our country.They can't pick and choose what laws they will enforce.

Originally Posted by revrick

As far as i'm concerned......These sheriffs will do what they are told or they can resign and go flip burgers. They obviously don't care about our country.They can't pick and choose what laws they will enforce.

I soooo agree!! now these over paid babies are telling taxpayers what laws they will or won't enforce. American taxpayers WE are not getting our moneys worth!!!

hey texas police. you do not get to pick and chose which laws to enforce.
your job is to enforce every law, just not the ones you are okay with

Any police officer who openly refuses to enforce the laws of the state andnation that he swore to uphold needs to be decertified and removed from his or her position. As a police commissioner I personally would call for that officers certification to be revoked and he be terminated. Law Enforcement does not have the option to pick what laws they want to enforce and those they don't. As for disrupting the community...well maybe if they started enforcing the immigration laws there the community would get behind the police more. Enforcement of immigration laws will eventually lead to lower crime rates, savings to the taxpayers, and a better overall community. If they think its too dangerious then maybe they need to plan better or to hire more police. Refusal to enforce laws is NOT an option.

It is every man and woman that wears a badge and connected to Law Enforcements jobs duties to help keep citizens and this Country safe from illegal invasions and criminal offenses. And we must accept our duties or seek another line of work. We all must also honor our duties to the fullest extent of the law.

Policing is not just about riding around in patrol cars, sight seeing, and arresting DUI drivers once or twice each day or night, there is a lot more that comes with the job title, and this must be remembered!!!

I suggest that every person involved with enforcing laws and law students become a member of ALIPAC web site so they can stay updated on all the terrible things happening in this Country, it would make them much wiser as they perform job duties, and may even save lives as well.

Sorry to hurt anyone feelings, but it is the truth.

"I'm very concerned that if we are forced into this immigration issue we're going to tear down that respect [for law enforcement] and crime will rise in our neighborhoods," he said. "And there's no reason to go down that road."

You and your ilk are already tearing down respect for law enforcement Wiles. People view law enforcement who will not enforce all the law as negligent and not doing what they are paid to do. How is that promoting respect for law enforcement officers. What happens is people begin to think that if law enforcement aren't going to do anything, perhaps they will have to.

Not enforcing immigration law causes in itself, crime to go up. Then what's the cost?