Thread: Bill would end 'sanctuary' for illegals

Bill would end 'sanctuary' for illegals
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
By PRECIOUS PETTY
The Express-Times
BETHLEHEM | U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent has introduced a bill that would prevent illegal immigrants charged with felony offenses from being released on bail.

The law would require local police to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials whenever an illegal immigrant is arrested on state felony charges, he said.

Federal detention of such suspects would be mandatory under the law, even if bail is posted on the state charges, Dent explained during a news conference Monday at his city office.

He said the Aug. 4 shooting deaths of three college students in a Newark schoolyard led him to introduce House Bill 4201.

Jose Carranza, the first suspect arrested in the case, was free on bail stemming from felony aggravated assault and child abuse charges when the shootings occurred.

Newark police did not inquire about Carranza's immigration status during his earlier arrests because the city employed a "don't ask don't tell" policy, said Dent, R-Pa.

Many of the nation's big cities have adopted these so-called "sanctuary" policies, where police are discouraged from notifying ICE when an illegal immigrant is in custody, he said.

His bill would put an end to that practice, Dent said. "We cannot have an interior enforcement policy of catch and release."

The congressman said he hasn't yet discussed his proposal with party leaders but remains confident it will garner bipartisan support.

Several Democrats co-sponsor the bill, including U.S. Reps. Jim Marshall of Florida and Tim Holden of Pennsylvania. U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton of New Jersey is also a co-sponsor.

www.nj.com

WOW do we need this, sanctuary cities have to be stopped, and we seem to be picking up more co-sponsors now on these enforcement bills every time one comes up.
2008 elections not are that far off!

1/3 or lot less

The only existing law concerning illegal immigration I feel needs reforming--illegally entering the U.S. should be a felony. This would prevent them from being released. The illegals are not merely entering--they are invading our county,

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion." Article IV Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.