MCIR response to Rep. Galvin letter
By GuestThe following letter is in response to state Rep. Bill Galvin’s recent guest column in the Canton Citizen concerning his support for the Safe Communities Act.
Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in most Massachusetts communities regularly exchange information about persons held in custody for crimes with the federal authorities, including the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mr. Galvin and his fellow sponsors of Bill S.1305/H.3269 would severely restrict future cooperation with ICE — even when the community wants to cooperate. Now, when the truth matters more than ever, Mr. Galvin seems reluctant to provide a truthful description of the bill.
What the Bill Would Do:
* Prohibit LEAs from inquiring about a detainee’s immigration status unless it is an element in the crime. The LEA could not ask ICE about the immigration status of rapists, murderers, armed robbers, or drunk drivers.
* Prevent ICE from questioning suspected criminal alien detainees in jail.
* Prevent officials from using any state resources to assist in immigration enforcement, including holding a criminal alien until ICE can take custody.
* Prohibit sharing of information in state databases (e.g., the address of a fugitive or suspect) with ICE.
* Prevent LEAs from participating in the 287(g)-partnership program. Since its launch during the Clinton administration, the State Police, Mass Corrections, Framingham PD and Bristol County have participated in this program. All such programs were adopted voluntarily by their respective communities.
* Stipulate that immigration status cannot be a factor in bail determinations.
This bill has no impact on relations between LEAs and illegal aliens in the community who have not broken local laws. Its only effect is to shield detainees already in custody.
This bill has very little to do with policies of the Trump Administration. When the Obama Administration prioritized deportation of criminals in 2012, some localities began refusing to cooperate, a refusal that continues today. Despite fundamental differences between Obama and Trump on immigration, their policies on deporting criminal aliens are basically the same.
Trump’s executive orders of January 27, 2017 were concerned with a) travel restrictions on persons from countries with high risk of terrorism (since upheld by the Supreme Court), and 2) measures to streamline enforcement and to encourage closer federal-state cooperation. These orders do not compel local LEAs to assist in apprehending anyone. (https://www.dhs.gov/executive-orders-protecting-homeland#)
Courts throughout the country have issued conflicting opinions about the status of ICE detainers, and the matter will eventually be resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court. Once again, the issue has not changed since the Obama Administration.
Leaving aside the pointless discussion of what constitutes “sanctuary,” most Americans believe that illegal aliens who commit serious crimes should be deported and that states and localities should cooperate in enforcing the law. Since Mr. Galvin and his fellow sponsors of S.1305/H. 3269 believe that Massachusetts obstruct federal authorities from executing the law, they should say so openly and explain why.
If this bill is enacted, those responsible for its enactment will share responsibility for all crimes committed by persons who otherwise would have been deported but were sheltered by the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
John Thompson
Massachusetts Coalition for Immigration Reform (MCIR)
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=37960
Posted by Guest
on Jan 14 2018. Filed under Featured Content, Opinion.
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