There is a great concern. and I know it was expressed in the terrorism bill. that we were going too far in deputizing State and local law enforcement agencies in what they could and could not do. and what that might mean. Mr. Chairman. this particular amendment allows the Attorney General. at the Attorney Generals discretion. to enter into agreements with States to allow State law enforcement officials to perform deportation duties. those things that are conducted currently by immigration officials. I would say that when you start allowing local law enforcement to go out there and seek out people who may be undocumented. or who may have questionable immigration status. what you are doing is asking them to perform the work of immigration or Border Patrol officers. If they are going to go through the whole training that a Border Patrol officer goes through. that is something different. and perhaps we could discuss it then. but I see nothing in this amendment that would provide for that. I see no monies in the amendment to provide for that. and what it does for me is cause a great deal of concern that what we are doing is extending the reach of the Federal Government. without extending the protections that should be there with it. For those reasons.
Keywords matched
undocumented deportation Border Patrol immigration