Or About Dang time??
HOUSTON — The Houston Police Department has announced that it will work more closely with federal officials to identify illegal immigrants involved in crimes. Under the policy announced Sunday, police will ask all arrested suspects whether they are citizens. Anyone without identification will be fingerprinted and their criminal histories checked in a national database.
Officers are still barred from asking people who aren’t under arrest about their immigration status, a restriction that has prompted critics to denounce Houston as a “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants.
But city officials said the new policy will help identify and remove violent criminals from Houston’s streets.
“(We are) specifically targeting those people that have been convicted of felonies in this country and have been previously deported and re-entered the country,” Police Chief Harold Hurtt said.
Under the new policy, police will hold suspects for immigration officials if a background search shows that the suspect is accused of returning to the country after being deported for a crime or defying an order to leave the country.
Those who cannot provide proper identification but have no criminal record will not be turned over to immigration officials.
Prior to the new policy, police generally did not hold anyone for immigration authorities, even if there were outstanding federal warrants.
“If the city restricts, in any way, a police officer’s ability to identify foreign nationals, it risks the possibility of losing all federal law enforcement grants,” said U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston.
Culberson introduced an amendment to the House appropriations bill that blocks federal grants to any city that restricts officials from exchanging information with federal immigration authorities. The bill has not yet been signed into law.
Local officials have said the city has no such restrictions.
Councilman Michael Berry said the change will “remove a number of violent criminals from streets.”
“You can’t know which lives will be saved because of it, but some lives will be saved,” he said. “And there will come a day when we ask for more, but, for now, we need to celebrate some progress.”
2006-10-06 12:41:01 · 15 answers · asked by Hold em Rox 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Please Note: “You can’t know which lives will be saved because of it, but some lives will be saved,”
Doesn't this sound like "Preventing Crimes"??
2006-10-06 12:42:35 · update #1
About dang time!!
And,
I think all schools should ask for proof of residence and legality in the country when someone is registering for enrollment. I also think all hospitals and medical clinics should ask for the same proof. If this proof cannot be given, INS should be called to further check them out and deportations should be done immediately if the persons are found to be here illegally.
When my daughter was on vacation in Honduras (Central America) she was told by Honduran customs to have her passport on her AT ALL TIMES while in the country and that she could be arrested if she could not produce it at any time upon request of a police officer. She rented a car and was stopped for no reason but that she was suspected to be a foreigner (light blond hair and white skin) and had to show her passport and drivers license whenever stopped by the police. Hmmmmm, is this sort of thing what we call "racial profiling" when it is done in the USA towards any minority? Anyways, if she were to live in Honduras, chances are she would continuously be stopped by police and other officials and forced to show her identification, simply because she stands out there as a "foreigner."
2006-10-06 14:46:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have no problem with any safety measures we use that might help another citizen who lives here from possible future harm. I feel this is are duty.
Maybe I am missing something that people feel this is a bad thing. I have yet to hear why this bothers some with a reasonable explanation that outweighs the good that could come out of this. A good reason not a rant. Maybe someone will explain that here. Until I hear that --this is good news and a good start.
2006-10-06 13:34:02 · answer #2 · answered by *** The Earth has Hadenough*** 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I do believe it is the right thing to do, but whether they ask or not, I think they should always check. If you are from another country and here legally, great! Welcome to America.
If you are here, illegally, then either go back home and go through the proper channels to enter the USA legally. If you entered the country illegally, then you entered as a lawbreaker. We have enough people here already that break the law. However, we do welcome people who come here to better themselves and their families legally.
2006-10-06 13:15:02 · answer #3 · answered by ihopetokissafrog 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
its a good thing because they can turn them over to ins and free up the police to better law enforcment instead of dealing with illegals
2006-10-07 05:22:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is about time all of the state and city police ask that question. I believe if you are a state trooper to a city cop any law that is broken you should enforce.
2006-10-06 12:46:54 · answer #5 · answered by spyderman131 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I don't know why all cops cant ask that every where.It sure wouldn't bother me.Its another tool for the police to use nothing more.if it helps get even one violent criminal off the street then I think its fine.
2006-10-06 12:57:30 · answer #6 · answered by Yakuza 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
If a cop pulls you over....ANYWHERE---Don't you have to show your license? You are not under arrest, but still have to show an ID.
If I cop sees a group of people acting suspicious, he can ask for all of their ID's. They are not under arrest.
I don't see why they can't ask for ID's, even if the people are not under arrest.
2006-10-06 12:59:31 · answer #7 · answered by AveGirl 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes...they should ask and check it out. If they are illegal they should be shipped back right away.....period.
2006-10-06 12:48:18 · answer #8 · answered by Jenny A 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
About DANG time they did so. Great copy and paste, enjoyed reading it.
2006-10-06 12:56:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
It is great, but they also need to keep asking if they are refugees from LA
2006-10-06 13:03:51 · answer #10 · answered by Texan Pete 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋