Obama Halts Local Illegal Immigration Enforcement

It seems the Obama administration has changed the rules. Local police who were trained and encouraged to police illegal immigration since 2002 will no longer be permitted to enforce illegal immigration laws. The effort was said to speed up deportations and help in combating the broader issue.

Smart time for Obama to become the open borders president he always fancied himself to be - just when the cost of illegal immigrants is weighing on the health care debate. Ideological, but dumb. Why doesn't he just hand the GOP a sledge hammer and get it over with?

PHOENIX (AP) -- An Arizona sheriff known for aggressively cracking down on illegal immigration has been stripped of some of his special power to enforce federal immigration law, and he claims the Obama administration is taking away his authority for political reasons.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose office faces racial profiling allegations over crime and immigration sweeps in some heavily Latino areas of metro Phoenix, said officials from Washington won't let him renew a deal that let his deputies make federal immigration arrests.

"Let them all go brag that they took away the sheriff's authority. Let them all do that. That doesn't bother me. I don't have an ego. I will continue doing the same thing," the Republican sheriff said, noting he can still enforce state immigration laws. "What has changed, other than the politics and the perception emanating from Washington?"

The U.S. government, which does most of the nation's immigration enforcement, is changing its rules for allowing local police to enforce more expansive federal immigration laws. Nationally, more than 1,000 local police and jail officers have been granted the power since 2002 to make immigration requests and speed up deportations.

Comments

[Mad Monica]

Whew! What a relief! Maybe our underpaid law enforcement folks can get back to protecting the people who actually pay taxes. Of course this now puts our Border Patrol in more danger because they'll be doing things all alone, but hey, as long as Obama can win him some points with the illegal community that's the important thing!

[x11b1p]

i love the new obama lets keep america safe program. its just as good as bush's was. i mean there is no way no how any dip shit terrorist who reads right to left could cirumvent our current defense systems by coming across the border. why should we expect self educated or non educated terrorist like the ones that did 9-11 to think that if drug cartels can smuggle in tons of dope across the border, and the US smuggle out tons of weapons and ammo, that a little dirty bomb is out of the question. so even if one or a brigade size element of terrorists do come across and kill one or 10,000 citizens it is not as important as a) republicans ensuring that corporate america and the precious small business has its cheap labor it can pay under the table and b) dems being able to feel good about feeling good and having stats to pad reasons for raising taxes and expanding government. hurray for for all of you sons of bithces that swore to protect this country from foreign threat. rice said it best - we have to be correct 100% of the time, the terrorist only once. so all you turd burglers who think its either a bottom line thing or an i sleep better at night thing please do not even get upset or angry or mad if you should be so unfortunate as to lose a loved one as a result of a terrorist act that could have been prevented if we took border secuirty serious.

[irongrampa]

Often said that we don't need immigration reform, simply enforcing EXISTING law would be new and different enough. In light of this info, it seems even that is too much to ask.
Additionally, the immigration problem faced today is the Effect. The ROOT cause is Mexico's inability or unwillingness to work to raise the living standard of it's citizenry. Unless this is addressed, the problem can only worsen.

Just my 2 cents.

[Brittancus]

The usual suspects are defying--THE AMERICAN PEOPLE--and are implicit in this weakening of our laws is Janet Napolitano, head of the Homeland Security. We all must realize with BLANKET AMNESTY on the immediate horizon, their using all the stops to collapse anything that smells of immigration enforcement. Anybody who has investigated the Democratic leadership would slowly weaken 287 G, that gave regular police training to question suspicious people about their immigrant status? Arizona County Sheriff Joe Ariapo was sure to be marked by Napolitano, because his deputies were having a incredulous success rate, in apprehending illegal aliens in his jurisdiction. However the corrupt lawmakers around the nation, have not been able to crush E-Verify? AS YET?

By now most business are conscious of the federal program E-Verify? It distinguishes US citizens and legal residents from illegal labor. Although not seamless, it has a 99.6 success rate and obviously will overtime become even more constructive to business that believes in the "Rule of Law." Opponents in both the business sector and even on Capitol Hill have released a torrent of abuse against the application. That includes its function is blind to counterfeit documentation and spurious ID and that even legal individuals can be rejected? SO--YOU GO TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE TO BE EXONERATED? ONLY ILLEGAL WORKERS WILL SHUN TURNING TO SSA FOR RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.

The open border conspirators are losing, as they did in a federal Maryland court a week previous. As E-Verify are perfected it needs to become a permanent tool in the incomplete arsenal of immigration enforcement. It needs to reach out to every company, big and small, in our country and every individual who works there? E-Verify eventually will expel foreign national from the workplace, without financial appropriations on a large scale. These people will self-deport when they cannot be hired anymore. Businesses facing huge fines and prison will be the ultimate deterrent. In time it will save our ailing schools, health care, home mortgages and government welfare system. Look to NUMBERSUSA for honest an answer, that includes costs to taxpayers for the new blanket AMNESTY. Which Senators and Republicans are anti-US American Worker and their immigration grades?

For an example Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has a miserable enforcement grade of "C-". He was out to erase E-Verify, under fund the border fence from the beginning of the Democratic administration. Then JUDICIAL WATCH is a public watchdog group Promoting Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in Government, Politics and the Law. They uncover misconduct by government officials and litigation to hold to account politicians and public officials who engage in corrupt activities. Finally CAPSWEB informs the public about the coming nightmare of OVERPOPULATION that is already exhibiting itself in our deteriorating infrastructure. TELL YOUR POLITICIANS YOU HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AT 202-224-3121

SAY NO PRO –ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT LIBERAL SOCIALIST--SANCTUARY CITY--MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.

Incidentally regarding the 2010 Census? Small states will miss out big time on federal dollars, while mass illegal immigrant states will gain more seats in Congress and too much power and influence? Of course ICE could check the immigration status of those who are counted, even though it's supposedly against US law? Or is counting 20 million plus (?) non-legal residence against the US Constitution?

[xerocky]

With all of the terror arrests that have been in the news lately, why would they want to send a single "lax" signal on the topic of homeland security? Iran is getting closer to having nukes, Pakistan is a mess, also has nukes, and Obama wants the southern border to be a sieve for these people?

If anything, right now, as his political clout is fading, it would benefit him to send a stronger message. But like I've been saying all along about O, he's politically tone deaf. He's so blinded to whatever patchwork of an ideology that he clinging to, there's no way that he's going to change.

In the Obama universe, Illegal immigrants= the good guys. Police= the bad guys.
Plain and simple, don't expect it to change.