The legal opinion could affect the way municipalities deal with illegal immigrants. We hope it does . . . FINALLY!
O'Grady was responding to the Princeton Borough Council, which sought an opinion on banning local officers from going on immigration raids. It is believed to be the first time the state has taken a position on local police involvement in immigration enforcement. It boggles the mind that a town council anywhere in America would EVER take such a position. What have we come to in America that a town council would ban law officers FROM DOING THEIR JOBS? Does the council have any concept that ICE consists of just 2000 agents to enforce the immigration laws that apply to 20 MILLION or more illegal aliens? Who did the Council think was supposed to help ICE? Perhaps 'We the People' should offer to step-up and 'do the job that the police are unwilling to do!'
"Absent any specific direction from the attorney general or the county prosecutors," O'Grady wrote, "all county and municipal police officers are expected to either enforce or assist other agencies in the enforcement of immigration laws." Duh!
O'Grady's letter, dated Sept. 6, threw the Princeton Borough Council into a tailspin last week, as city officials, immigration lawyers and an assistant Mercer County prosecutor tried to determine what to do next. Because the opinion repeatedly referred only to "criminal activity," the council debated whether police would be obligated to assist in the far more common immigration cases brought under civil law. Why is it that the police and municipalities keep trying to hide behind such fallacious technicalities. The law, is the law, is the law. JUST DO YOUR JOB AND ENFORCE IT!
Officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stress that entering the country illegally is "an administrative violation." Although a federal statute does say that "improper entry" by an alien may be punishable by a fine or imprisonment up to six months (a misdemeanor in the criminal statutes), Homeland Security officials say the offense is usually handled with deportation under the civil code. That is CHOICE or as they would put it . . . a 'policy decision' that DHS has made and NOT AS STATED IN IMMIGRATION LAW! (See below)
Several council members said they realize that local police officers must arrest criminals. "But if we are not obligated to assist in the enforcement of civil laws associated with immigration, I would just [rather] not be involved," said Councilman David Goldfarb. It is obvious that the council members do not know what they are talking about because ALL immigration laws is CRIMINAL LAW with CIVIL PENALTIES IN ADDITION TO THE CRIMINAL ONES. (See the law below)
However, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office said police don't have the option of choosing which laws to enforce. Thank heavens, sanity prevails!
"Police officers have the duty and obligation to enforce the law," said John Hagerty, the spokesman. AMEN!
"Municipalities do not have the authority to regulate how police enforce the law. A municipality cannot tell police officers to ignore certain laws and enforce others. That is as it should be! Why should that ever have to be said?
"The attorney general sets the standard." It's about time!
Drawing a distinction between the civil and criminal categories has been considered crucial by local officials in several New Jersey towns - as well as across the United States - who have argued that municipal police should not get involved in enforcing federal immigration violations that are administrative matters.
It is a FACT that entering, residing, and working here without our permission, IS A CRIMINAL MATTER. Unfortunately our government has CHOSEN to deal with illegal aliens administratively. This does not abrogate the FACT that it is their responsibility to arrest those who break our laws to enter this country, break our laws to remain in this country, break our laws to reside in this country, break our laws to work in this country and break our laws to drive in this country.
By the adoption of such ridicules 'hair-splitting' policies, local towns are 'aiding and abetting' illegal aliens by providing sanctuary for them to remain here illegally and unmolested. Such policies are a violation of our laws not to mention they are ALSO precursors to ANARCHY!
The issue reached a boiling point in New Jersey in the past year, when some towns - including Princeton - provided police support to federal immigration agents as they raided dozens of homes to arrest illegal immigrants who had ignored deportation orders. The collaboration drew bitter criticism from some community members and town officials, who said illegals would lose trust in police and be reluctant to report crimes in which they were victims or witnesses.
Surely they 'jest' when they say 'illegals would lose trust' . . . how about us LAW ABIDING CITIZENS who have lost trust in our police departments because they are NOT ARRESTING all those MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of ILLEGAL ALIEN LAWBREAKERS! We all know that there is now TWO SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE here in America. One for us and one for the illegal aliens. We are OUTRAGED and we are 'not going to take it anymore!'
The deputy attorney general's opinion alarmed some Princeton officials who saw it as overly harsh and loaded with social, legal and financial ramifications. Oh that's baloney! It's now 'overly harsh' for the police to enforce our immigration laws. Why do they exist? Are they just some decorative 'wall paper?' Give me a break!
Ryan Lilienthal, an attorney and former borough councilman who helped draft the Princeton ordinance, said he called O'Grady and asked: "Are you aware of the policy implications of what you are suggesting, or the budget implications you are suggesting for the state, the counties and municipalities?" We don't give a damn about policies or some budget considerations . . . WE WANT OUR LAWS ENFORCED!!!
Lilienthal said O'Grady "clearly wasn't fully aware." Who cares, we just want our immigration laws ENFORCED!
Princeton Police Chief Anthony V. Federico responded to the state ruling by drafting an order that tries to find a way to follow the law without harming the department's relationship with illegal immigrants. This statement is such an egregious and outrageous affront to every law-abiding American citizen . . . that it defies a response! The chief should consider turning in his badge for malfeasance of office. If he wants to 'protect and defend' illegal aliens instead of enforcing our immigration laws that were created to protect ALL Americans he should be fired. His apparent 'high regard' for illegal alien lawbreakers is nauseating!
"Local police agencies depend on the cooperation of immigrants, legal and illegal, in solving all sorts of crimes and in the maintenance of public order," the police chief said in the document. "Without assurances that they will not be subject to an immigration investigation and possible deportation, many immigrants with critical information would not come forward, even when heinous crimes are committed against them or their families." Clearly we wouldn't need their help IF THEY WEREN'T HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!
HERE'S THE LAW and the PENALTIES FOR JUST ONE OF THE LAWS THAT ILLEGALS BREAK:
United States Code: Title 8 - Chapter 12 - Subchapter II - Part VIII - Section 1325 - Improper Entry by Alien:
Section 1325. Improper entry by alien
(a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection;
misrepresentation and concealment of facts
Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States
at any time or place other than as designated by immigration
officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration
officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United
States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the
willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first
commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or
imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent
commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or
imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(b) Improper time or place; civil penalties
Any alien who is apprehended while entering (or attempting to
enter) the United States at a time or place other than as
designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil
penalty of -
(1) at least $50 and not more than $250 for each such entry (or
attempted entry); or
(2) twice the amount specified in paragraph (1) in the case of
an alien who has been previously subject to a civil penalty under
this subsection.
Civil penalties under this subsection are in addition to, and not
in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be
imposed.