Thread: Local police wary about immigration enforcement

Local police wary about immigration enforcement

Mar 17, 2017



ANDERSON — Madison County law enforcement officials say they've got their hands full fighting local crime without having to assume the duties of federal immigration officers trying to locate and detain illegal immigrants.

President Donald J. Trump raised that prospect when he signed an executive order, "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States," in January. Language in the order called for deputizing local law enforcement agencies as part of the fight against illegal immigration.

That authority would complement elements in the president's first budget released Thursday, which proposed hiring more U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and Border Patrol agents, immigration judges, border enforcement prosecutors, deputy marshals, and attorneys to speed up deportations.

"We have not been asked to, nor have we been directed to do anything different," by federal or state homeland security officials, Madison County Sheriff Scott Mellinger said.

"We do not try to actively locate illegal immigrants," he said. "If we run across someone during regular law enforcement contact, and they can't produce sufficient identification, or something about their identification seems suspicious, we take appropriate action."

If a person isn't taken into custody, Mellinger said deputies obtain good contact information (residence and perhaps where they work), and do a follow-up investigation to find out their immigration status.

"But, quite frankly, it happens very infrequently that we would even have to do any follow-up like that," he added.

Earlier this month, 63 police chiefs and sheriffs from around the country issued a letter saying they don't want their officers acting as federal immigration officers. They are part of a group called the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force, created in 2015.

"Immigration enforcement is, first and foremost, a federal responsibility," the letter says. "We believe that making our communities safer means better defining roles and improving relationships between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities."

"Our immigration problem is a national problem deserving of a national approach, and we urge Congress to lead the way in working towards taking the necessary steps to fix our broken system through a permanent legislative solution."

Elwood Police Chief Jason Brizendine said his small department of 17 officers is already busy enough with local crime and doesn't have the resources and training to take on a new mission.

"There's too much other stuff going on," Brizendine.

The question of whether police should play a role in immigration enforcement is one he declined to answer.

"That's a local political issue," Brizendine said.

Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said he believes the authority to handle immigration issues would have to flow from the federal to state government, and then to local law enforcement.

"I see people I believe or suspect are illegal, but I don't go up to them and ask questions about their status," he said. "That's not something we have historically done here."

http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/l...1a7fc7290.html

Do you register pets? In our town, law enforcement through the County Sheriff's Office has the time to register pets, collect money, send letters if you don't pay, they even have a system with the local vets that if you take your beloved pet to the vet, and the pet isn't wearing a registered pet tag, the vet reports it to the Sheriff's Office and they take immediate action. I'm sure now that this cat is out of the bag people aren't taking their pets to the vet as much or they're taking them to a vet out of town. Regardless of your views on pet registration, my point is ... law enforcement suddenly had time to do that and the municipal police help enforce it to the letter and dime.

So ...spare me "we're too busy with other crimes" CRAPPOLA and enforce the important laws of the United States to the letter and dime including most specifically ... US IMMIGRATION LAW.