Text from H.R. 6089:H.R. 6089 reaffirms the inherent authority of state and local law enforcement to voluntarily investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain, and transfer to federal custody aliens in the U.S. in order to assist in the enforcement of the immigration laws.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 /U.S. Newswire/
Today, Rev. Luis Cortes warns Congress of the serious unintended consequences of increased state and local law enforcement authority to enforce federal immigration laws contained in H.R. 6089 on the House floor this Thursday: "Giving state and local law enforcement new authority to enforce federal immigration statutes would instantly transform the close, cooperative relationship community leaders, especially Hispanic clergy, have with local police into an adversarial one.
Roll film of Jack-Booted Brown-shirts kicking in a door.
"Police would no longer be there to protect us but to trap those members of our community who are undocumented. Hundreds of extremely successful community police programs depend on community volunteer participation. Together they make communities, families and children safer. All would shut down.
projection: n 1: a prediction made by extrapolating from past observations.
"The vast majority of our community who support and appreciate local law enforcement —But have nothing but contempt for Federal law enforcement.-- would be forced to keep them at arm's length, creating a distance between police and the community that will severely diminish the health and safety of the community. This would take place in some of our county's poorest communities where energy should be focused on strengthening, not severing, relations with local law enforcement.
Que up the sinister music and roll film of renegade mobs pillaging a peaceful community.
"A serious dark side would emerge as all undocumented instantly become targets, easy prey for the criminal who would take advantage of law enforcement's role in immigration enforcement to enhance their criminal enterprises.
"12 million people -- plus their 3 million children & their 40 million American citizen family members -- can no longer call the police. Violent criminals will have more rights than hard working members of communities whose only infraction was the misdemeanor offense of entering our country looking for work or to unite their family. YepÂ…all 12 million or soÂ…all on the up and upÂ…everyoneÂ…just a misdemeanor...nawwthing ta worry about.
"Drug dealers could prey on the undocumented demanding their property or to have their kids run drugs for them. Single undocumented mothers and their daughters -- and the men who seek to protect them -- become instant targets for unreported rape and abuse. The rapist will mockingly hand her the phone and dare her to call 911. Play the maniacal laughter soundtrack.
"State and local law enforcement agrees with us. On June 23, Philadelphia Chief of Police Sylvester Johnson -- joined by 56 Police Chiefs of Major Metropolitan Areas at a Major Chiefs Association press conference --said that his officers will not track down undocumented immigrants.
In reality, Johnson and the other ChiefsÂ’ main sticking points were the possibility of a Federal Un-funded mandate and lack of knowledge in enforcing immigration laws. But that doesnÂ’t really fit with this narrative now does it?