Speech #1090173481

If somebody committed a crime. and they were here legally or illegally. the standard practice for local law enforcement is to pick that person up. arrest them. and then they will be punished. Then they will be turned over to ICE. Immigration Control and Enforcement. What this bill would do is allow for our local police and sheriffs and constables to actually be standing in the place of immigration officers. I support strong law enforcement of our immigration laws. but we shouldnt burden our local law enforcement officers to enforce Federal immigration laws. This Congress and this administration has cut the COPS program since 2001. Asking our local law enforcement agencies to enforce Federal immigration law without any commitment of funds is unfair and takes officers out of our neighborhoods and off our streets. The role of local law enforcement is to protect our property and our families. Most local police departments are already stretched thin as it is. In Houston. our officers have had the challenge of protecting an additional 100.000 people who evacuated to Houston from 52. Pt. 14 September 21. 2006 New Orleans over a year ago. Adding immigration enforcement to their duties would make their jobs tougher and our neighborhoods less safe. Currently if law enforcement officers catch someone committing a crime that is here illegally or legally. they are turned over to Immigration Control and Enforcement. and they are deported. Now. they need to pay their debt to our own county or State. but they will be deported. If someone breaks into my home. either the Houston Police Department. the sheriffs department or the county constables will show up. not the Border Patrol. not Immigration Customs Enforcement officers. They dont come to protect my home. Securing our borders is a Federal responsibility. This body is responsible for ensuring that there is enough funding for detention beds and Border Patrol officers. We shouldnt put the responsibility on our local law enforcement officers to fill the gaps. and we should be doing our own part to ensure the security of our borders and interior enforcement. The cuts in funds for local police make it hard to protect our lives and property.