Should local and state police have the authority to check on Research Paper - 1

Should local and state police have the authority to check on immigration status - Research Paper Example he ability of the terrorists to manipulate the weak points of immigration laws was not surprising, as enforcing these laws has proved to be an uphill task. It is suggested that the number of illegal aliens living in the United States is close to 7-10 million with a handful of 2000 enforcement agents to deal with them. This hence increased the urgency of reform in the immigration system (Kobach 179 Â ´). On reading the letter sent to him by the United States attorney general suggesting the involvement of the local police in enforcing the federal immigration law, Mayor Peterson was of the contrary opinion. On his reply to the attorney general, Mayor Peterson indicated that the local police were not the right personnel equipped for this task. He went on to elaborate that local police lacked the necessary expertise and training that is crucial in ascertaining on whom is illegally in the country. In addition to this, by placing the responsibility of enforcing the immigration laws on the local police, United States will be diverting these law enforcement agents from their neighborhood responsibilities that have existed since time in memorial. The hard-earned trust that existed between the new residents and the police could be jeopardized thanks to the new responsibilities regarding enforcement of immigration laws. In addition to this, the long founded legacy that existed in the city of service delivery to all despite ones immigration status could be destroyed. This legacy was viewed as the key to promoting public safety as discrimination is avoided (Indianapolis Monthly 2006, 225). D’Appollonia and Reich also indicate that by delegating the immigration status alone cannot amount to involvement of the local and state police in immigration enforcement. They go on to indicate that this is tantamount to transformation of the state police to personal destruction. The delegation of responsibilities regarding immigration enforcement to the local police by the federal