Thread: RI State Police to enforce immigration law

RI State Police to enforce immigration law





Published: August 5, 2009

PROVIDENCE—State police detectives will function as federal agents with the power to arrest immigration violators under an agreement that’s part of Gov. Don Carcieri’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.

The deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced Wednesday, will allow the four detectives to become immigration officers. Once trained, the detectives can arrest illegal immigrants for immigration offenses so long as the targets are suspected of involvement in serious crimes, gangs, smuggling or trafficking.

“The focus will be on those illegal aliens who are engaged in criminal activity,“ State Police Superintendent Brendan Doherty said in a written statement.

It was unclear when the Rhode Island program will begin. Training the officers typically takes four weeks.

The state Department of Corrections reached a similar agreement this summer allowing it to identify illegal immigrants in state custody for possible deportation.

The U.S. government has agreements with 79 agencies, which includes prisons, state police, sheriff’s offices and local police departments.

Carcieri, a Republican, signed an executive order last year requiring the State Police and prison system to seek the authority to enforce federal immigration law. His order also forces the state government and companies doing business with the state to verify the immigration statuses of new hires using a federal database.

In a written statement, Carcieri said he applauds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for expanding its relationships with state prisons and local police.

Religious leaders in the state, immigration advocates and members of Carcieri’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs have criticized the executive order, saying it could sow mistrust between police and the public and lead to racial profiling.


http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/news/local ... law/21169/

Bravo, Gov. Don Carcieri !