This shortage of INS officers is compounded by the fact that only they have jurisdiction to return fence jumpers. Ambassador Victor Palmieri. President Carters Coordinator for Refugee Affairs. in a meeting at my office in early July. informed me that State and local law enforcement officers would not have the authority to return refugees who escaped from Fort McCoy unless they were breaking a State or local law. I was informed that when escaped refugees are discovered. State or local authorities are to inform the INS officers at Fort McCoy. who will then be dispatched to return the refugees to the camp. It is the opinion of Attorney General Bronson La Follette of Wisconsin that State and local law enforcement officers would be subject to false arrest and false imprisonment suits if they detain escaped refugees not violating State or local law. In two letters to U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti. neither of which he ever responded to. I requested sufficient numbers of State and local law enforcement officers be temporarily deputized as U.S. marshals. to empower them to return refugees and to be ready for any disturbances like those happening at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas or Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. The deputizations of local law enforcement officers would also free the already short supply of INS officers to handle internal security matters at Fort McCoy more effectively. INS officers now utilized extensively to handle fence jumpers would be better utilized in guarding compound 800. the high risk area.
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