Speech #1100059220

I just want to say the gentleman is absolutely right. We have to separate what ICE does from local law enforcement. This is trying to backdoor immigration reform. We really need. not piecemeal immigration reform. if we are going to do it. ICE. in relation with the jails. that works. Make sure the incarcerated criminals are tracked in the right direction. But to go into neighborhoods using local law enforcement that is now using ICE money to train them really. I think. undermines the law enforcement system in that community. and lawabiding citizens who would be willing to help solve a crime are now being victimized. If we are going to do immigration reform. lets do it. Lets do it in the right way. But lets not manipulate local law enforcement. who in fact have made official statements on the record that they would prefer not to be engaged in Federal immigration work. So I thank the gentleman for the point that he has made. and I hope that this body will get down at some point to a reasonable and rational response to the problems of the immigration system.