New illegal immigration enforcement policy in effect today
Published: March 3, 2008
Updated: March 3, 2008
The Prince William County Police Department activated its new policy regarding illegal immigration enforcement today.
As part of the new policy, police officers will inquire into the citizenship or immigration status of persons who are lawfully detained for a violation of state or local law if probable cause exists to believe that person is in violation of federal immigration law.
If such a violation exists, police officers will coordinate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch concerning that individual.
There are three key points to the policy, according to a news release from the department.
1. Officers will focus on criminal aliens – persons who are in the United States illegally and who commit crimes that would make them eligible for deportation.
2. Police officers will protect crime victims and cooperative witnesses – regardless of their immigration status.
3. Racial profiling is expressly prohibited. Police officers will not detain or arrest individuals based on their national origin, race, religion or creed. In addition to being morally wrong, racial profiling is a violation of federal law as well as existing Police Department policy.
Immigration Enforcement
All sworn members of the Police Department, as well as relevant civilian personnel, received comprehensive training regarding the new policy, and how to implement it in a fair, lawful, and reasonable manner. Topics covered during training included legal instruction, bias reduction/racial profiling, identification of false documentation, and procedural response to illegal aliens. Representatives from the County Attorney’s office, ICE, and the Police Department’s staff served as instructors.
More information regarding the Police Department’s immigration enforcement efforts can be found on the web site at https://www.pwcgov.org/police.
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Reader Reactions
Let’s cut out the nonsense. There is no way this can be enforced without racial profiling.
Following the law, abiding by the law and supporting the law is “work” that illegal aliens just won’t do. Two different groups have emerged in America today due to the effect of illegal immigration, those who have to obey the law (citizens) and those who don’t (illegal aliens).
Legalizing an illegal alien’s presence in America by rewarding their illegal behavior through amnesty is not the way to build a good system of law and order. It only invites more criminal activity and more avoidance of our laws.
We tried ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ in 1986. We gave amnesty to 3 million illegal aliens in exchange for the government promising to secure the borders, conduct workplace enforcement and enforce immigration law. It didn’t work because the government lied and did nothing other than process the amnesty paperwork. Due to that folly, we now have 20 Million or more illegal aliens here demanding amnesty.
Don’t you think it is far beyond time that we engage in Comprehensive Immigration ENFORCEMENT rather than Comprehensive Immigration Reform? Nice wwork, Prince William County with your “can do” approach. You are a model for the rest of the apathetic country who will hopefully wake up before its not too late.
After you’ve had the time to digest your great accomplishment, let your State and Federal reps know what you want. Get on the phone, fax and e-mail your Senators and Representatives and DEMAND that they engage in Comprehensive Immigration Enforcement, not amnesty reform.
My hat is off to you PWC!
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