if local police can't enforce immigration laws which are federal laws why then do they?

Question

enforce other federal laws?

Answer 1

Thats a very good question. I think, this being a sensitive issue in many places and with the ACLU and LULAC filing law suits everytime an American city even thinks about taking action, that many local police department have been instructed by higher ups not to get involved.

Answer 2

The answer is YES! Now here are the reasons: 1. It is against the law to be in the United States illegally. That is a U.S. federal legitimate law that does not have to be questioned or removed from the law books. Read U.S. Code 8 (ALIENS AND NATIONALITY). 2. All 50 states including U.S. territories must obey and enforce U.S. federal laws, as mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. 3. All government officials (local, county, state, and federal) must take an oath to uphold all U.S. laws and end it by saying “so help me God”. 4. It is the responsibility of all government officials (local, county, state, and federal) if they find illegal immigrants (through their own police force) to just turn them in to ICE and ICE will have them deported. If any government official looks the other way with full knowledge of illegal immigrants then that person is breaking the law. So it is not just a federal thing, it applies to all levels of government. If any lawyer tells you other wise, then that person is lying. Enforcing the borders is a joint effort for all levels of government. 5. All countries have the right to enforce their borders and they have the right to be xenophobic. If the United States wants to close the borders then it can do so without the permission on non-U.S. Citizens. 6. The reason why there are so many illegal immigrants is because big business wants them here as cheap labor and is too cheap pay decent wages to Americans for the same jobs. So they bribe the government and to tell them to look the other way. If they really need cheap labor, the government can provide a legitimate guest-worker program. This way it is controlled and documented. 7. Enforcing the borders is easy and cheaper than trying to catch 20 million illegal immigrants in a short period of time. However, it can be done using our existing resources. a. Police officers will eventually run into and apprehend illegal immigrants through their regular police work, which does not require more funding. The only catch is time. Within five to ten years, the police can catch about eight to fifteen illegal immigrants and turn them into ICE. ICE will deport them with very little processing time. This can be done if government officials do not look the other way and just enforce the law. b. For hard core criminals who are illegal, just sent them to U.S. prison for a long time. c. Big business and special interest groups have to be punished as well. Again, you want cheap immigrant labor, start a quest worker program. There is no debate here. It is the duty of all US law enforcement officers to assist ICE.

Answer 3

They generally don't. Most state/local law enforcement only enforce state or local laws. That's all the are legally allowed to enforce.

Some activities are covered by both state and federal laws, but some (like immigration) are exclusively federal jurisdiction.

Answer 4

Civil liability, is the reason some police departments have policies of not dealing with immigration issues. Just like Border Patrol Agents not having peace officer authority. Border Patrol Agents are not trained in peace officer laws, rules and regulations. If it doesn't deal with immigration or other laws that I have delegated authority, I don't get involved. Too many greedy people read to sue for civil rights violations. I want to live a happy life and not worry about being sued. I walk the straight line!

Answer 5

Because federal enforcement is non-existant and somebody needs to do something so many states have decided to do what our federal government refuses to do. Soon all states will be allowed to do as they wish with illegals. Any local law enforcement agency can detain or arrest for federal crimes, they just can't prosecute so most deport as they should do.

Answer 6

The law enforcement systems, local and federal, attempt to pull together. Pulling together gets things accomplished.

Answer 7

Huh? I dont think local police can enforce immigration laws. I would like them to though. California needs some definitely, since most illegals pass through the borders of California.

Answer 8

Because of the way the law is written, they can enforce them but only if they request and are given permission by the Federal governemnt to do so.

Nashville for example has just requested permission to do so.

Part is that no other court but immigration court has authority on it, And while their are codes against it, previously they were not considered actual criminal charges ( no jail time, merely immigration violations, which causes deportation.

It is not like drug charges and the such written as criminal codes.

Answer 9

Good question..
the Federal Govt's enforcement of immigration law has been
SHAMEFUL at best...Same as its war on drugs...Shameful...

Answer 10

illegal immigration's a really political issue(as if you hadn't noticed), and they probably already have a lot of other things to do. BUT: If all they have to do is pick up a telephone and call somebody, that's not a lot of work.

There's also the issue of 'sanctuary cities'. Some cities in the United States have decided, in their infinite wisdom, that they will be 'sanctuary' cities, cities in which no one will be deported/arrested simply for being in the country illegally.

Be sure to write to Congress and express your support for better enforcement on illegal immigration!