Attorney General Charlie Condon today proposed a "two-pronged attack on illegal immigration" in South Carolina

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Grassroots Information Coordination Center (GICC) : One Thread

For educational purposes only

http://www.scattorneygeneral.com/scattorneygeneral/press_release.nsf/frmPressRelease?CreateDocument&unid=90648145C6D49DE985256ADF0064F35B

Condon Proposes Two-Pronged Attack on Illegal Immigration 10/8/2001

(Columbia, S.C.) Attorney General Charlie Condon today proposed a "two-pronged attack on illegal immigration" in South Carolina. In addition to offering legislation empowering South Carolina law enforcement officers to makes arrests for criminal violations of the federal immigration laws, Condon said that his office is currently in preliminary discussions with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to reach an agreement allowing South Carolina law enforcement officers to be deputized as INS agents for full enforcement of the federal immigration laws. Condon said that such agreement, using a provision enacted by Congress in 1996, would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Condon proposes to create "an elite force in South Carolina made up of officers from various State and local law enforcement agencies who are properly trained and supervised to enforce federal immigration laws throughout South Carolina." An amendment to the federal immigrations laws in 1996 authorized the US Attorney General to contract with states and local law enforcement agencies to assist the federal government in enforcing the immigration laws. Pursuant to such agreement, state and local officers would be trained by INS for deputization as INS agents.

"Working hand in hand with federal authorities, South Carolina can truly be a model for the nation in stopping illegal immigration and the potential for terrorism," Condon said. "The federal government needs and wants our help and public safety requires our help."

Condon also unveiled proposed legislation which he said will "close the legal loophole standing as an obstacle to our law enforcement officers arresting those who violate the criminal provisions of the federal immigration laws." He said the legislation is necessary because, currently, state law is not clear whether South Carolina law enforcement officers can make arrests for federal immigration crimes. He said that federal law allows such arrests but only if authorized by state law. Condon cited provisions in the federal immigration law which are criminal offenses such as illegally entering the country, transporting illegal aliens and engaging in a pattern or practice of hiring illegal aliens. "The INS is not usually out patrolling the streets, interstates and highways as our law enforcement officers are," Condon said. "Therefore, it just makes good sense to allow our law enforcement officers to make arrests for criminal violations of our immigration laws."

Condon also welcomed an expert on immigration reform, Jim Staudenraus, who is Eastern Field Director for the Federation of American Immigration Reform, or FAIR. FAIR is a leading national organization on immigration in America whose goal is to reform American immigration to restore "reasonable and moderate levels" of immigration. The organization has hundreds of members in South Carolina and many have written Condon endorsing his proposals. Staudenraus and FAIR support Condon's proposals.

"Coupled with the menace of domestic terrorism, illegal immigration poses a clear and present danger to our national security," Condon said. "It is time that we here in South Carolina take illegal immigration seriously and take a stand. Today South Carolina is enlisting in the war against illegal immigration. After September 11, combating illegal immigration is not just a question of protecting the law. It is a matter of protecting lives."

-- K (infosurf@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001

Answers

Its a MIRACLE!! I never would have expected common sense legislation to be passed ever. As it stands now, the police can stop illegals and because the INS is too busy, they have to let them go. We need to flush the country of the millions that are illegally residing here and for a lot more reasons than because "It is a matter of protecting lives."

-- Guy Daley (guydaley1@netzero.net), October 11, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ