This country functions according to the concept of federalism. It’s pure enlightenment theory, straight out of Montesquieu-the separation of powers is essential to democracy. One of the powers our founding fathers gave to the federal government was the creation and enforcement of immigration law.
The Virginia State Police are having none of that, however. As part of a plan to strengthen homeland security, they have formed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as provided for by a 1996 law, by which they can interrogate and arrest illegal immigrants without a warrant.
Never mind that only three of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were illegal immigrants. Practically, this ability wouldn’t have done much to prevent the terrorist attacks three years ago.
And we won’t worry about giving state police the ability to interrogate any suspected illegal immigrant to find probable cause for an arrest. We can trust the officer to decide whether a person could be illegal. Racial profiling won’t be an issue.
Of course, these are illegal immigrants, not citizens. They aren’t protected by the constitution, so we don’t have to respect their liberties.
We might violate the rights of one or two legal residents along the way. In 1997, Judy Golub of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association told the Washington Post, when 400 “illegal immigrants” were detained, it turned out some legal immigrants were swept up along with them. But these days, it’s all worth it for the marginal increase in security.
Eugenio Arene, a spokesperson for the Council of Latino Agencies in the District of Columbia, said that such a policy “creates fear, it creates significant barriers of inclusion.” But this is a new world. Fear is our mantra and exclusion our modus operandi.
Since Sept. 11, pilot programs giving local law enforcement this authority have sprung up in Alabama and Florida, with Idaho and Colorado considering similar measures. It’s too bad the District hasn’t hopped on the bandwagon.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Charles Ramsey told the Washington Post that he wouldn’t consider giving DC police authority to enforce immigration law. He doesn’t want illegal immigrants to be afraid to report crimes.
While Virginia State Troopers are fighting terrorism, Ramsey wants to deal with the murders, muggings and gang violence that affect people every day. Obviously he hasn’t got his priorities straight.
