Why break the law to enforce it?
January 4, 2010
'Systemic breakdown'?
On December 15, Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois introduced his version of Comprehensive Immigration Reform to the House of Representatives. Amongst its many provisions, the bill would eliminate the successful 287(g) immigration enforcement program in which local law enforcement are trained and deputized by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to carry out federal immigration law.
All together 287(g) is that “grassroots” program where the playing field begins to at least attempt to level just this side of the verticle leaning, loopsided disadvantage our law enforcement officials are faced with daily. In an attempt to allow someone to experience what it must be like for these officers to enter these ‘hoods’ one need only to think of such successful films as: Street Kings, Training Day, Bad Boys, and even Max Payne deals with the issue to a degree.
Yet, Gutierrez’s bill is not the only blow made against 287(g) this year. Following an early 2009 GAO report that resulted in claims of racial profiling and a lack oversight and direction within 287(g), the Obama administration announced changes to the Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) that are signed by participating agencies. Law enforcement must now pursue the criminal charges for which an illegal alien is arrested rather than simply initiating removal, and are to limit immigration status checks to only those arrested for “major” offenses. These changes were a strike against the very heart of the program. (Further reading click here.)
We implore anyone, everyone, to just have a look at the many previous articles written at this site that addresses assisting ICE, law enforcement working together, and how successful this particular program has been. Folks in all openness our nation’s Immigration and Naturalization Service is useless; unless of course one is into corruption; yet nonetheless INS is a dinosaur – and old and extinct system – that is completely in disrepair.
According to the Heritage Foundation in the past seven years, more than 120,000 illegal immigrants have been identified within the US by the 66 state and local law enforcement agencies that have signed Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) to participate in 287(g). This program has helped to remove dangerous criminal aliens from the US. For example, one participating agency, the Davidson County Sherriff’s Office, has cited 287(g) in leading to the arrest of 90 gang leaders within their jurisdiction. (Please continue here at the Heritage Foundation.)
Section 287(g) offers a key tool in fighting crime and removing illegal immigrants from the United States. Recent legislation and executive action should not be allowed to bring an end to such a vital immigration enforcement program. We need to commit to ourselves that there will not be any “systemic breakdowns” and do what we must to institute the ‘Manner of Law’ back into our nation.
Hat tip to Jessica Zuckerman, also to The Heritage Foundation.
