Thread: Roanoke.com: Home-grown immigration reform

Home-grown immigration reform

States and local governments must consider the consequences of their own immigration measures before rushing forward out of frustration.

State and local impatience with Congress' failure to overhaul immigration law is apparent when a county government openly blames illegal immigrants for crime, spiraling school costs and overcrowded housing, then passes a resolution aimed at "taking back" the community.

We'll set aside the prejudiced overtone and emphasize this: Immigration is a federal issue that warrants a federal response. State and local measures that target illegal immigrants, such as a tough resolution the Prince William County Board of Supervisors passed last week, are open invitations to unintended consequences.

The hundreds who packed a meeting before the Prince William supervisors sent clear signals, tinged with anger and racism, that it is time to reclaim their community. The supervisors, already leaning toward a crackdown, unanimously approved the resolution. It requires county police to check the status of anyone in custody who they suspect is undocumented, and requires county staff to verify a person's legal status before providing public services such as nonemergency medical care.

Feeling compelled to act when Congress has not can be understood. But resolution opponents are right to be concerned about the consequences: that the new measure may result in an end to community policing and an increase in youth crime and racial profiling.

The resolution also directs the county police department to enter an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train officers in immigration law enforcement.

But according to the Manassas Journal, the superintendent of the Prince William-Manassas Regional jail told supervisors that ICE has said it will accept only 40 illegal immigrants a month, and only those who have been convicted of a crime or are the "worst of the worst."

The superintendent also said not everyone tagged by ICE will be deported. John Stirrup Jr., the supervisor who proposed the resolution, said he refused to "accept ICE's position that they cannot process more individuals."

Stirrup can think what he will; it won't change hard facts.

The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported last week that ICE is understaffed, underfunded and overwhelmed with responsibilities not only in the Hampton Roads area but throughout the country. Since its creation in 2003, ICE has failed to make significant headway in stemming the increase in illegal immigrants or their criminal activities, the Pilot found.

Prince William County's impatient rush to take matters into its own hands will undoubtedly lead to unintended consequences.

"There's a political vacuum, and state and local governments are moving into it," Michael Thurmond, Georgia's labor commissioner, told USA Today last week.

State and local governments rush to fill the void at the risk of even worse problems.

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/wb/xp-124464

SOME HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RACIAL PROFILING....or asking for status
I have a bigger problem with the boarders and ports being wide open to anyone ...while our government goes trolling through our bank accounts, e-mail, phone conversations and giving all our private info to countries we may travel to...including all info and charge card numbers held in a data base for years.

ALL UNDER THE GUISE OF NATIONAL SECURITY.....We are forced to give up our privacy...these people have no rights.....and its time... if they don't like it....tuff...Under national security they need to start profiling and making them show their status...the laws apply to all....
you try and open a bank account, buy a house or drive a car without proper paperwork or even go to jail and not show proof of who you are.

Our government can pick up these illegal aliens anytime they want to, they are all over the streets.

And it's a joke that that amnesty bill would have been a cure...those that are criminals, those who don't and won't pay taxes and those with false ids WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE DARK SAY "hI HERE i AM"
The only cure is to enforce our laws and if they won't they PEOPLE NEED TO GET their local and state governments to do it....we have state constitutions that mandate law and order to protect the safety of it's citizens. INSTEAD OF TOWNS ON THEIR OWN... WE NEED A CLASS ACTION AGAINST THE FED GOVERNMENT OR A CLASS ACTION OF CITIZENS AGAINST STATE AND FED. GOVERNMENT.

This individual is undoubtedly a social liberal and he or she is not looking at the larger picture ... as a nation... we have had it... Increased rape, child molestation, DUI, armed robbery's, MS-13 activity ... hell gang activity as a whole ... murder rate's are up... flooded schools, Emergency rooms and the welfare roles are bloated again ... if this individual has that much empathy ... he can migrate south of the border and see if he gets any jail time ... NO, this time we are taking our COUNTRY BACK thank you and will make sure it dosent go into this incompetent analysts hands

RIGHT ON..............GOD BLESS AMERICA AND IT'S PEOPLE