Great power, great responsibility

It’s a dream come true for opponents of illegal immigration.

Monday, the Manassas City Council unanimously authorized its police department to begin enforcing federal immigration laws.

This means that Manassas police chief John J. Skinner can now sign a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Homeland Security, giving Manassas police a tool to fight illegal immigrant criminal activity in Manassas.

We hope this new power is used responsibly.

The memorandum states that illegal immigrants convicted of state or federal felony crimes against persons, property and society could be subject to deportation as could people who commit more minor offenses like trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Under this agreement, officers trained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement would “have the power and the authority to interrogate any person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States and to process for immigration violations…”

The federal government has mostly abandoned its responsibility to control the flow of illegal immigrants into the country. As a result, local jurisdictions are feeling the pressure to handle the situation themselves.

This new power gives local police some authority over what is happening within city limits with regard to illegal immigration.
This should be cause for praise for those many city residents who feel that the city is rapidly losing control over its community.

However, to quote the famous catchphrase of Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Hispanics have become indelibly linked in the minds of many with illegal immigrants. The temptation to profile people as illegal immigrants based on the complexion of their skin is going to be a tempting one.

If this occurs, it is going to contribute to the anxiety felt by many in the Hispanic communities of Manassas, as well as Manassas Park and Prince William County — both of whom are working out similar agreements with ICE.

We hope that the police department can ensure that profiling does not become routine as it attempts to enforce federal immigration law.

The success of this venture will depend on the courage and strength of our Manassas police force — the courage they demonstrate fighting crime among all elements of the community and the strength to prevent the pursuit of people based solely on their ethnic heritage.