I rise for the purpose of making a statement in regard to the fact that I was going to offer an amendment on the subject of law enforcement. I am not going to offer that amendment. and my statement gives an explanation. My amendment. to permit cooperation between the Immigration and Naturalization Service and State and local law enforcement agencies. was accepted by the immigration subcommittee. but deleted during full committee consideration of the bill. I have discussed this amendment with the Senator from Wyoming and other Senators. with the administration. especially the Department of Justice and the INS. and with many organizations interested in the proposal. As a result of these discussions and extensive legal research into the questions addressed by my amendment. I now believe that the activities which my amendment is intended to foster can be conducted without limitation under current law. Both administrative opinion and case law indicate that cooperation between Federal immigration officers and State and local law enforcement officials is not only permitted. but is considered useful and should be encouraged. My intention when I offered this amendment was to clarify a confused situation in which State and local law enforcement agencies were unsure as to their liability if they cooperated with Federal immigration officers. Legal authorities in several States indicated that the situation was so unclear as to preclude any cooperation. not from fear of doing wrong. but because they did not know where the limits to their actions. if any. would lie. I sought to ameliorate this chilling effect.
Keywords matched
Naturalization Immigration immigration