Speech #1090099021

Mr. Chairman. let me say to the gentleman from California that it is interesting that we come to the floor and try to make like there is a divide in the arresting and detaining of criminals. Every jurisdiction. outside of the Federal jurisdiction. has the right and responsibility to arrest criminals. whether they be documented or undocumented. There is no divide on that question. Local law enforcement. local sheriffs. local constables. local police. can. in fact. arrest criminals. detain them and even send them through our judicial system. Your amendment. however. breaks the back of our local jurisdiction. and it creates an enormous unfunded mandate. It would force cashstrapped State and local governments to enforce civil immigration laws. We want the criminals off the street. But you would force our local governments to take on extra responsibilities without funding. Let me remind you that the idea of enforcement of terrorism really begins outside of our borders. That is what we are here to talk about. to ensure that we have strong border security enforcement. I would also offer to say that we hope that the DeFazioLungren bill passes in a few moments because that is what it does. it ensures that we protect against those who would come inside. That would protect the Federal jurisdiction and the State. But this amendment preempts any State and local laws that bar their law enforcement officers from assuming the Federal responsibility of enforcing civil immigration laws. But more importantly. what it does Is it forces local jurisdictions to send private information on crime victims. possibly a rape victim. who may be an undocumented immigrant. And this amendment opposes another unfunded mandate on State and local governments. It undermines effective community policing. increases racial profiling.