Jim Kouri
Illegal aliens exempt from ICE enforcement
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By Jim Kouri
July 14, 2010

"If you ask me, the Obama administration is attacking the wrong people. But I'm not surprised... liberal-left politicians always side with criminals, terrorists and other malefactors." — Former NYPD Detective.

Although he claims that enforcing immigration laws is vital to national security and public safety, the Assistant Secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement — known as ICE — circulated an internal memo ordering officers not to arrest a broad range of illegal aliens he deems immune from "mandatory detention," according to watchdog public-interest group Judicial Watch.

According to a report obtained by the 14,000-member National Association of Chiefs of Police, field office directors "should not expend detention resources on aliens who are known to be suffering from serious physical or mental illness, or who are disabled, elderly, pregnant, or nursing, or demonstrate that they are primary caretakers of children or an infirm person, or whose detention is otherwise not in the public interest," according to a memorandum issued by ICE Assistant Secretary John Morton.

That's because the Homeland Security agency has "limited resources" and must prioritize the use of its enforcement personnel and detention space. Therefore, illegal immigrants that fall into the above referenced category are "not subject to mandatory detention," according to Morton, who also writes that "particular care" should be given when dealing with the immediate family members of U.S. citizens.

Morton further points out in the four-page memo that the agency only has the resources to remove less than 4% of undocumented people living in the U.S. Thus the justification for ignoring the other several million, even if it compromises national security, public safety and all those other important things, according to the Judicial Watch press statement.

Days after the agency charged with immigration enforcement admits it can't — or won't — get the job done, the Obama Administration sued Arizona for passing a law that "unconstitutionally" intervenes with the government's authority to do it.

The measure, which makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and bans "sanctuary city" policies, interferes with federal immigration responsibilities, according to Attorney General Eric Holder.

While denigrating the citizens of Arizona, President Barack Obama and his so-called national-security team have never commented on "sanctuary city" policies in Los Angeles, New York and other locations, that are indeed a violation of federal immigration law.

In addition, the Obama Administration recently appointed a police chief — Harold Hurtt, who believes in illegal alien sanctuary city policies — to command an immigration enforcement program that entails federal agents working with local police departments on cases involving illegal aliens.

As part of the Homeland Security Department's anti-terrorism mission, the new director for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of State and Local Coordination is now Hurtt, an outspoken critic of immigration enforcement on the local level such as Arizona's new immigration enforcement law.

"Officials who call their city a 'sanctuary city' for illegal aliens is basically aiding and abetting federal crimes Add the other crimes committed as a result of illegal aliens — identity theft, counterfeiting driver's licenses, social security cards, and other identity documents — and suddenly you're talking about government corruption in those cities," said former NYPD police detective and military intelligence officer Sid Franes.

"If you ask me, the Obama administration is attacking the wrong people. But I'm not surprised... liberal-left politicians always side with criminals, terrorists and other malefactors," said Det. Franes.

"Arizonians are understandably frustrated with illegal immigration and the federal government has a responsibility to comprehensively address those concerns," Holder said after filing the lawsuit in Phoenix this week. He added that "setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration laws is a national responsibility."

Not surprisingly, Holder didn't address the shameful ICE memo that reveals the federal government is in fact ignoring its responsibility when it comes to immigration enforcement. That means more states will probably follow Arizona officials' lead in creating their own measures and the feds will spend more tax dollars to fight them, according to Judicial Watch.

© Jim Kouri

 

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Jim Kouri

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police... (more)

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