Thread: Feds fail in responsibility

Feds fail in responsibility

http://www.dailyprogress.com

A state proposal to build a prison specifically for illegal immigrants. A county board meeting where two sides almost come to blows.

This is the result of Washington’s failure to resolve the immigration issue.

Once again, Washington is pushing its responsibilities down to state and local levels - as if these governments have the resources to solve the problem.

Although it has agreed to build a massive wall between the United States and Mexico, Congress has done little to address the underlying questions regarding immigration. Such inaction has failed both to reduce the flow of illegal immigration and to deal with the inevitable consequences.

Among those consequences is making arrests. Without federal guidance, protection and intervention, some localities have decided they must act to enforce the law themselves.

In some cases that agenda has emerged in new laws, such as those penalizing employers or landlords who knowingly deal with illegal immigrants. In others, it means making arrests - or not making arrests - on violations of existing laws that may have special consequences for illegal aliens, including deportation.

Opponents say local governments should not aggressively pursue immigration laws or arrests. A less activist role would allow illegal immigrants to live and work alongside legal residents.

Prince William County has decided on the activist approach. There, earlier this week, more than 1,200 people packed a Board of Supervisors meeting and supporters of the two sides almost became violent in the street outside.

Because Washington won’t act, Manassas, and other communities, are being torn apart.

The problem for localities is not as simple as just saying: We won’t deal with immigration offenses.

Lawbreaking affects localities intimately. Illegal aliens are lawbreakers simply by being here. But if they add other offenses to the list - motor vehicle violations are a frequent example - localities cannot not act. To ignore these offenses is to make a mockery of law itself, and to potentially endanger citizens.

Yet some localities are in danger of doing exactly that.

Local law enforcement agencies sometimes decide not to arrest illegal immigrants on charges that could lead to deportation, for one very practical but appalling reason:

They know the federal government will not promptly transfer those prisoners to federal custody, and they know they cannot afford to pay to keep federal prisoners in their own local jails. Trying to manage their limited jail capacity, they may decline to arrest some illegal immigrants who have broken additional laws. It is a devil’s bargain.

Washington has foundered on many levels. Not only has it failed to enact immigration reform, it has failed to enforce its existing laws adequately.

It has left the state and local governments to pick up the slack - if they can.

Immigration is about national borders. It is a federal issue.

Congress’ failure to accept this responsibility is not only fundamentally unfair to states and localities, it is at heart an inexcusable act of spinelessness.

Lou Dobbs did a piece on this today. Prince William is taking a very strong stance against illegal immigration to protect the citizenry. Good for them.

Psalm 91

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeach

Lou Dobbs did a piece on this today. Prince William is taking a very strong stance against illegal immigration to protect the citizenry. Good for them.

Psalm 91

It is a good thing
Now if the rest of Pink House America would just wake up !!!