Can you BELIEVE this? Do we HATE our law enforcement officers?

hayleylov

thats messed up , U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has called for Americaâ€™s police officers to help secure the homeland. In a speech on October 8, 2002 and when they do their job this is what happens ? state and local police officers have the legal authority to enforce federal immigration laws (this is explored more fully in the following section), officers may not realize this. Some people have tried to create a perception of an arbitrary distinction between immigration and other federal laws, and local officers may be uncertain whether the law or the Constitution grants them authority regarding immigration offenses; however, police at the local level often make arrests for other federal offenses.

Police officers also may hesitate to scrutinize a suspect too closely for fear of being charged with racial or ethnic discrimination. Such lawsuits as that won against Chandler, Ariz., in 1997, when police questioned about 400 people for proof of citizenship, can have a chilling effect on local law enforcementâ€™s getting involved in immigration matters.

Federal authorities do not help the situation any when they add to the confusion. For example, an INS deputy district director in Georgia was quoted, â€œItâ€™s not a crime to be in the U.S. illegally. Itâ€™s a violation of civil law.â€8 An INS spokesman in California referred to aliens unlawfully present as â€œlaw-abiding citizensâ€ (they are neither).9 Such statements, though clearly wrong, serve to muddle local law enforcementâ€™s understanding of what the immigration code says and how they should handle suspected violations

They may not know whether an illegal alien has committed a criminal immigration offense or not, but most immigration offenses, such as entry without inspection, fraud, and alien smuggling, are felonies. Gray areas exist, however. For example, to enter the country by sneaking across the border is punishable under the federal criminal code (INA Sec. 275), while overstaying a temporary visa is but a deportable offense (INA Sec. 237(a)(1)(C)(i)).

State, county, and municipal law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the law. This includes upholding the U.S. Constitution and implies federal laws. As a 1996 Department of Justice legal opinion put it, â€œIt is well-settled that state law enforcement officers are permitted to enforce federal statutes where such enforcement activities do not impair federal regulatory interests.â€26 The current Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel has reportedly read the law and the Constitution even more in accord with the Founding Fathers.

joeandhisguitar

I tell you...a nice class action suit against the federal government by all of the different states attorneys for failing to do their sworn duty would be a good start. I can say this, Americans have a keen sense of right and wrong, The feds will see another example of Americas outrage and see that there is no escape any more. We have got to hold the feds responsible for their negligence. The states should look at the laws they are passing to help our cause as sub-contracting, and charge the feds for the price of apprehending and deporting illegals.

Hadenough

I think our officials are so afraid of backlash they would prefer that nothing is done.

Officers in my family often have told me they were to leave certain thing alone by their Supervisors.

Unfortunately I think by things like this-the ACLU is hurting the people who are here illegally more. They are not helping-as more and more people are getting outraged.

Lucky

Sad state of affairs.

Seeing Clearly

I believe it.... it is the socialist left at work in America.... our soldiers are also charged with BS crimes while defending our country.

Two border patrol agents face up to 20 years in prison for actions while trying to apprehend an illegal alien who had over 700 pounds of drugs in his van. He got shot in his azz while fleeing back into Mexico..... they should have aimed better.

princess_29_71

It's not right. It's not right at all.

volleyballchick

It makes me angry.

What is their argument? Because they are not caucasian, it is racial profiling because they were asked for identification? I've been a passanger in a vehicle before where I was asked for my identification because I was in the car. If you are over 16, you should always have some sort of identification on you.

The officer had probable cause for the request. If I was 19 and in a car with a driver that had been speeding, and then it was found that he had been drinking, then everyone would be asked to prove themselves of legal age for alcohol consumption. The officer pulled over the van, asked for identification of the people in the van because he saw a rather large number in the van (is it legal to have that many in a van in the first place? Isn't it with the seat belt laws that there must be a seat and seat belt for each passanger in the vehicle?) and inquired further.

They're just pissed that they got caught. And the ACLU really goes too far at times. . .

UNIVERSAL

this is such bull. they were he illegally and then they want American rights. the cop made a clean bust all 14 are illegal. he deserves a medal for the single handed capture of 14 criminals. to be in America is a privilege not a right. the ACLU are nothing but commie, Christians haters.
it's time to end all this political correctness it's just hypocrisy.

yars232c

Anything to give a criminal and advantage. PC is getting thinner and thinner and may yet turn out to be a good thing.

bobemac

I don't think we "hate" our law enforcement officers is an appropriate statement. In regard to the article, one must not forget the way our judicial system works, those people who were detained and then holler " racial profiling" should be, shot on the spot, using that as an excuse is the biggest crock of dung I've ever heard.

We must, as Americans, take a stand and change those old laws. One way is for all Americans to go out and VOTE, every vote counts> I cannot emphasize that enough, you just might just see some changes.

anthrotistic

I'm tired of people hating law enforcement officers just for doing their jobs.

Let me get this straight.

The people in the vehicle believe that they were pulled over wholly due to their ethnicity and that it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that there were 14 people in the vehicle!?!

OK fine - it was a van, maybe it did have 14 seatbelts.

But then when the officer asks for identification and none was given. His intuition suggested that he notify ICE - which is what he is suppose to do.

Furthermore, when ICE arrived it was found that he was RIGHT and the 14 people are now facing deportation.

And the officer is facing charges??? For WHAT? Being right? Listening to his gut??

Give me a break!

clone_commander_cody

I belive a simple way to end this is... They are illegal , deport them , and be done with it.

Alex B

Actually, I tend to be on the liberal side, but I believe in profiling. Somewhere we have to get a clue that all this PC stuff is creating a door for bad people to attack us. I personally do not have a problem with profiling as long as it is done without animosity and with a sense of purpose. The people whining about being detained is what causes the animosity. This includes the white business man in the airport. Let the officials do their job and quit being so sensitive. There are a lot worse things in the world than you being detained momentarily. TIME TO GROW UP AMERICA!!!!

de rak

I don't even know why people want to go into the law enforcement business. All they get is negative input and are hated on. They do not get the respect they deserve.

dukalink6000

There are days it seems that way.

larry_the_orc

The government doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Technically the police officer was in the wrong- but he did the right MORAL thing. So he'll walk

QUE PASA??

DE RAK, YOU KNOW NOTHING AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. YOU CANNOT MAKE IT AS A BOYSCOUT MUCH LESS AS A MAN.

bitter^princess

I AGREE WITH THE SECOND SENTENCE OF THE FIRST ANSWER

INSTEAD BECOMING A COP HE SHOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR A JOB WITH IMMIGRATION

would it bother you so much if the suspects were here legally

TOOTLES

ibelieve

Critics argue that race should:

never be considered for any reason in a police action (save the exceptions made below).
never be considered the primary or motivating factor for suspicion.
only be considered when it is used to describe a specific suspect in a specific crime and only when used in a manner like other physical descriptions (e.g., hair color, weight, distinguishing marks).
it is sometimes necessary to consider racial factors in a way that may not be immediately apprent from the above when dealing with hate crimes and the like, though it is very rare to think of situations where racial profiling would aid police decision making in this context.

It does sound like Racial Profiling

cassiepiehoney

too many pop-up, but yes I kind of do hate them. once they came the day AFTER my mom got her butt kicked by a violent drunk. now two cops live on my street in a complex...they park any direction they want but anyone else gets a ticket...come on-they know it too and they just keep doing it. I know there are probably alot of cops that do alot of good...but around here its just boys power-tripping.they are afraid of the gangs and theives so they ticket people in the nicest part of the neighborhood where they are nice and safe....the parking police of NJ

Catcanscratch

I HATE cops!!! Some have treated me like crap!!!

coragryph

Sounds like a clear case of racial profiling.

Not to mention that state law enforcement is not authorized to enforce federal immigration laws.

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