Speech #1090173501

It would be more productive to consider an alien smuggling bill that I introduced a few years ago. the Commercial Alien Smuggling Elimination Act of 2003. the CASE Act. It would establish a threepoint program that was drafted with assistance from government officials who are involved in the investigation. disruption. and prosecution of commercial alien smugglers. H.R. 6095 would give State and local police officers the authority to enforce civil immigration laws. I do not want local police forces to enforce immigration law. Immigration violations are different from the typical criminal offenses that police officers normally face. The typical law enforcement activities of local police officers involve crimes such as murders. assaults. narcotics. robberies. burglaries. domestic violence. and traffic violations. It would require extensive training to prepare them to enforce civil immigration provisions. If police act as immigration agents. undocumented immigrants are likely to be afraid to contact the police when a crime has been committed. It they as victims. witnesses. or concemed residents contact the police. they or their family members could risk deportation. Experience shows that this fear would extend not only to contact with local police. but also to the fire department. hospitals. and the public school system. H.R. 6095 also would undermine local polices role in enhancing national security. National security experts and State and local law enforcement officers agree that good intelligence and strong community relationships are the keys to keeping our Nation and our streets safe. Undocumented immigrants who might otherwise be helpful to security investigators would be reluctant to come forward for fear of immigration consequences. H.R. 6095 has an "Ending Catch and Release Act of 2006." title. but the provisions under that title deal with injunctions in federal immigration litigation. "Catch and release" is a reference to the practice of apprehending aliens in the vicinity of the border and then releasing them pending removal proceedings. Apparently. the connection is the permanent injunction in OrantesHemandez v. Gonzalez.