Cops union to Phoenix officials: How about we start enforcing immigration law for a change?
posted at 1:57 pm on October 16, 2007 by Bryan
PHOENIX — A union for police officers broke with leaders of the Phoenix Police Department on Monday in calling for an end to an immigration policy that the union says makes streets in the nation’s fifth largest city more dangerous.
The policy prevents police officers from asking federal immigration authorities for assistance in situations where illegal immigrants commit civil traffic violations.
AdvertisementThe restriction and other city rules for handling illegal immigrants have long been criticized by advocates for tough border enforcement, who reject the long-held notion that immigration is a sole responsibility of the federal government. But such criticism has never surfaced publicly from the officers themselves.
“If we allow a little bit of lawlessness, what prevents more lawlessness from occurring,” asked Mark Spencer, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, which represents more than 2,200 officers and detectives in the Phoenix Police Department.
Spencer said the call for a change was based on frustrations that officers feel in seeing crimes tied to illegal immigration and wasn’t inspired by last month’s death of a police officer at the hands of an illegal immigrant.
Lawlessness begets lawlessness. Phoenix’s policy isn’t atypical of sanctuary cities.
Under the policy, the Phoenix Police Department can call federal immigration authorities in cases where immigrant smuggling vehicles are pulled over or scores of illegal immigrants are found hidden in houses run by smugglers.
But officers aren’t allowed to stop people for the sole purpose of determining their immigration status. Also, Phoenix police aren’t to arrest people whose only violation is an infraction of federal immigration law.
The union was requesting changes only to the prohibition on calling federal immigration authorities for those with civil traffic violations.
Harris and other police bosses in Arizona held a news conference Monday to renew their opposition to suggestions that local police conduct day-to-day immigration enforcement.
Imperfect, but at least in the right general direction.
Meanwhile, another Phoenix cop has been shot by an illegal alien. Thankfully, this one wasn’t injured badly.
Blowback
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That pretty much sums it up, Mark.
Spirit of 1776 on October 16, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Once again, “leaders” who know better or have a different agenda than protecting our sovereignty.
bbz123 on October 16, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Selective enforcement of laws is as bad as selective respect for laws.
omnipotent on October 16, 2007 at 2:01 PM
Hopefully they will be doing less as the employer-sanctions kick in. AZ businesses are already complaining about the mass exodus of cheap labor.
sunny on October 16, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Come on, Phoenix, do to illegal aliens what the Rockies did to your baseball team this week!
radjah shelduck on October 16, 2007 at 2:07 PM
The Officer was shot in the heart with a 45. Thank God he was wearing his vest, otherwise he would have been killed less than a month since Erfler’s death (who was killed by an illegal who was stopped for jay-walking). The illegal had been deported & he had been pulled over numberous times for traffic violations. Because of their sancutary stance this time he fired on the Officer when he was pulled over for running a stop sign!! This is what we have to deal with in Phoenix – protect the illegals, to heck with the legal citizens. Their political stance is getting Officers & citizens killed or injured.
Kat13 on October 16, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Americans don’t have a problem with legal immigration even in fairly substantial numbers but when millions come here illegally every year and then become entitled, then justifiably Americans are outraged and justifiably will demand enforcement of our already comparably open immigration system laws.
We’re generous and more open than anyone else, just don’t scam or take advantage of our generosity.
Speakup on October 16, 2007 at 2:17 PM
But if they just gave the illegals licenses this would all go away.
Iblis on October 16, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Give jurisdiction to Sheriff Arpaio!!!
Hell, I thought the same thing for California. Why not use Arpaio’s “tent city” idea when rounding up illegal immigrants?
In fact, here in California one of the state representatives, the name I forget, proposed initiating a state border patrol agency whose sole purpose would be to enforce immigration law! This was several years ago, however and I’m sure it’s gone to the wind by now since I haven’t heard anything about it since then.
But that’s OK, rather than enforcing the law, the state government, including the Governator, thinks its more important to eliminate discriminating terms like “Mother and Father” or “parents” from the public school system. By the way, under this new law, SB 777, your gender is defined as whatever you feel like. This means that if I am a guy that believes I am more of a woman I am allowed to go into either a woman’s bathroom or locker room and use the facilities! The same the other way around. Gender is now completely subjective by law! All in the name of discrimination! Boo reason! Yay Socialism!
By the way, this law also mandates that homosexuality, heterosexuality, and transgenderism be taught with equal emphasis from all levels of public school. Isn’t it comforting to know your kindergarten-age kids will get prime access to this garbage!
I can’t wait to finish my degree and get the hell out of this state! In 2010, I will emigrate back to the US and I will be happy!
Weebork on October 16, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Of course the cops should get help. Any idiot knows that. Who are these stoolheads that want to let them run wild. Some people are really hopelessly stupid like me, but even I know anything making it toughfer on illegals is a very good thing. They need to be motivated to leave. Period.
saiga on October 16, 2007 at 2:53 PM
They are just fortunate that William Tecumseh Sherman does not come back from “retirement” and burn their plantations to the ground.
MB4 on October 16, 2007 at 2:58 PM
PC and business is going to alter this country, much not for the good. And this from a staunch capitalist.
Entelechy on October 16, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Another demonstration of how the top officials- who tend to be either elected or political appointees- are often out of touch with the rank and file.
I can understand cops not stopping people solely to inquire about immigration status (racial profiling and all that), but not reporting those they catch for other crimes, including relatively minor ones? A freakin insane policy that has cost lives.
Hollowpoint on October 16, 2007 at 3:03 PM
Law enforcement and capitalism. Who would have believed it?
It just blows my mind how many people don’t believe it either.
MamaAJ on October 16, 2007 at 3:10 PM
I agree. And I am a staunch capitalist, “free markets” guy too.
Many, particularly the Wall Street Journal type, forget that Capitalism in a moral vacuum does not work long-term. It degenerates into greed and amorality, and amorality cannot exist for long without degenerating deeper, and spiraling downward into immorality.
Look at the illegal immigration issue and employers.
US employers know that they can knowingly fire US citizens, and hire illegals who will work for lower wages with no benefits. And these same US employers then point the illegal alien into the direction of the local Emergency Room for all of their outpatient, non-critical and non-urgent healthcare needs. The hospital suffers financially, and raises its prices, and eventually closes its doors.
The employer knows this, and doesn’t care.
This is immorality.
When Capitalism is torn away and uprooted from its historic moral foundation, it cannot survive very long. It degenerates into more versions of societal evil.
ColtsFan on October 16, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Bryan,
What do you know about the:
Anti-Sanctuary Amendments Offered On Spending Bill?
this from the NumbersUSA website:
I also forwarded you the email I received, to your tips@HotAir.com email inbox.
Mcguyver on October 16, 2007 at 3:25 PM
And these same US employers then point the illegal alien into the direction of the local Emergency Room for all of their outpatient, non-critical and non-urgent healthcare needs. The hospital suffers financially, and raises its prices, and eventually closes its doors.
The employer knows this, and doesn’t care.
This is immorality.
When Capitalism is torn away and uprooted from its historic moral foundation, it cannot survive very long. It degenerates into more versions of societal evil.
ColtsFan on October 16, 2007 at 3:18 PM
In defense of these employers, I’m sure that they took the money saved on health insurance, and passed it on to their employees. (sarc.)
striper1 on October 16, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Here’s a great poll on the immigration issue.
It doesn’t take much of your time.
Mcguyver on October 16, 2007 at 5:56 PM
Mcguyver – poll closed as of 6:25 p.m. CST.
Neocon Peg on October 16, 2007 at 7:26 PM