does anyone understand this answer i got from a USA governor?

Question

i asked my governor to remove a city mayor from office because he was breaking the law by giving ID cards to illegal immigrants.

she said there was nothing she could do because it was an immigration matter which falls under the federal government.

how is giving an ID card to illegal immigrants an immigration matter ? the issue is, the mayor is breaking the law by assisting someone to break the law. it doesnt matter if they are illegal immigrants or drug dealers.

Mayors cant overrule the federal government, they cant allow immigration if the federal government doesnt allow it, so how is this a federal matter ?

and even if she is right, the matter has already been settled, the legislation the president wanted didnt go through, so the matter is settled, all illegal immigrants will be deported.

does she expect the federal government to send in federal troops to remove the mayor and restore order? can the federal government remove a mayor ?

normobrian -

ok, but what if a man walks into a DMV, says he is an illegal alien, has none of the documents required to get a license and they still give him a license. wouldnt that be against the law ? i am talking about a mayor who is giving an ID card to people he knows are illegal immigrants. he knows they are breaking the law. how is that a federal matter?

Answer 1

The governor is correct. States (and cities) cannot enforce federal immigration laws. That's in the text of the law.

However, the mayor of New Haven is not violating federal law, and nobody has pointed to any state law that says a mayor cannot issue city-ID cards to anyone they want.

It's a federal matter if the mayor is claiming to issue cards that convey federal authority -- such as trying to issue a passport or SSN. That's not what's happening here.

And troops can only be sent in "to restore order" if there is a violent insurrection. Nobody is taking up weapons and trying to stage an armed rebellion.

Answer 2

No not really,
he is a official put in office by the people so the people have vote him out,
But you might have opened someones eyes in the government if the matter of the illegal immigrants are not getting the id's and are being deported.
I know the mayor got off this time,
but at the next election if everyone votes for anyone but him then he is out.

Answer 3

It is illegal, under federal law, for municipalities (and employers) to challenge people on their immigration status. In America, policemen cannot stop you on the street and ask you for your 'papers', like they did in Nazi Germany.

For a non-driver ID, issued as ID by states to non-drivers, they can only ask for proof of residency. That can be in the form of a utility bill, mail addressed to that person, or any other evidence that they live within a certain jurisdiction. Citizenship or legal status is a forbidden criteria under federal law.

For a driver's license, states are allowed to ask for proof that someone is here legally (work visa, student visa, citizen, resident alien, etc), however, it is illegal for workers at DMV offices to challenge that proof. If Jose Mexicano walks in with documents showing that he is Sven Svenson from Copenhagen, it would be illegal for the workers to challenge him under federal law. They must accept documents at face value and have no discretion, whatsoever.

Immigration status can only be challenged by federal employees within the guidlines set out for them, i.e., Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Any other agency that investigates the legal status of someone in this country is breaking the law. It's that simple.

Answer 4

The fundamental purpose of the Federal Government is to protect the boarders and enforce the Bill of Rights.

Looks like it's time for a new Federal Government. Judging from our lack of boarders, and our huge federal tax rate, it might be time for the electorate to start making their own decisions about who they really want to control us: Them or US.

Time to rock and roll. Get involved in the issues, vote in a real Congress; and get back to the roots. This is OUR government!

Answer 5

Since we have very liberal judges in the US they are siding on that of illegal immigrants. So we need more liberal judges out there that can make laws from the bench.

Answer 6

Absolutely, the government can and will remove any member when they are convicted. However, the charge must be made, tried and convicted first,. Usually they will step down if the evidence is strongly against them. Great question...

Answer 7

The governor is passing the buck because the issue is a hot political potato and she doesn't want to confront it. You know that. :-)