VTMBH Article: Body
The countrys police chiefs are divided about United States Justice Departments legal draft arguing that local police be given the powers of the INS.
According to the Justice Department, states and municipalities must enforce immigration laws. In Florida and South Carolina, with the exception of small pilot programs, state and local police are often present at Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) raids and assist in security and transportation, but do not make arrests.
There is a mixed response to the polices new role. Supporters say that the INS will get more manpower and help the war against terrorism. Critics say that racial profiling will increase and the already strained relationships between immigrant communities and the police will severely deteriorate.
A high-ranking police official from the Chicago Police Department called the issue political. He said that the CPD has unambiguous direction from the mayors office: the police will have nothing to do with immigration. If we stop someone to question them, we do not ask them their nationality or legal status, the official said.
The Boston Police Department has a different opinion. Lieutenant Margolis, of the BPD, says the police may be essential players in arrests of Al Qaeda members.
The chief of the Washington, D.C., Police Department, Charles H. Ramsay, said that immigration responsibilities will play havoc with the already charged relationship between police and the immigrant communities. Only if the incidence of severe crimes increases in the immigrant community should the police take this step.
The Justice Department, without giving details, says that they are examining whether local and state police departments should be given INS powers.
Angela Kelly, deputy director of the National Immigration Forum, noted that local and state police are not trained in immigration law. Under these circumstances the kinds of power that the Justice Department is seeking for the police will have disastrous consequences.
Tim Edgar, legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, agrees. There is a real danger of tremendous fear and distrust between the police and immigrant communities, he said.
According to the Justice Department, states and municipalities must enforce immigration laws. In Florida and South Carolina, with the exception of small pilot programs, state and local police are often present at Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) raids and assist in security and transportation, but do not make arrests.
There is a mixed response to the polices new role. Supporters say that the INS will get more manpower and help the war against terrorism. Critics say that racial profiling will increase and the already strained relationships between immigrant communities and the police will severely deteriorate.
A high-ranking police official from the Chicago Police Department called the issue political. He said that the CPD has unambiguous direction from the mayors office: the police will have nothing to do with immigration. If we stop someone to question them, we do not ask them their nationality or legal status, the official said.
The Boston Police Department has a different opinion. Lieutenant Margolis, of the BPD, says the police may be essential players in arrests of Al Qaeda members.
The chief of the Washington, D.C., Police Department, Charles H. Ramsay, said that immigration responsibilities will play havoc with the already charged relationship between police and the immigrant communities. Only if the incidence of severe crimes increases in the immigrant community should the police take this step.
The Justice Department, without giving details, says that they are examining whether local and state police departments should be given INS powers.
Angela Kelly, deputy director of the National Immigration Forum, noted that local and state police are not trained in immigration law. Under these circumstances the kinds of power that the Justice Department is seeking for the police will have disastrous consequences.
Tim Edgar, legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, agrees. There is a real danger of tremendous fear and distrust between the police and immigrant communities, he said.