Skip to content
LPBN-Icon-v1
ImmigrationProf Blog
A Member of the Law Professor Blogs Network

MALDEF on Enforcement-Only Immigration Bills

By immigrationprof

A Message from MALDEF:

CONTACT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO OPPOSE ENFORCEMENT-ONLY IMMIGRATION BILLS H.R. 6095 would make Latinos less safe and hamper police-community relations The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) joins local law enforcement officials, mayors and civil rights leaders to oppose a series of enforcement-only bills, including H.R. 6095 that would allow state and local police to enforce federal civil immigration law. House of Representatives action is expected today and MALDEF encourages you to call your Congressional Representatives today and ask them to vote against H.R. 6095, H.R. 6094, and H.R. 4830. Giving local police the authority to enforce federal immigration laws conflicts with the Constitution which places this authority only in the hands of the federal government; Under H.R. 6095, local police are provided no training in immigration law despite being given this new authority;In 1996, Congress authorized the Department of Justice to enter into agreements with local governments for limited immigration enforcement authority. No local government has entered into such an agreement; Local police oppose granting this authority because it will make their jobs to promote public safety and obtain community cooperation much more difficult. H.R. 6095 and the companion bills are a last-minute Election season ploy to look tough on immigration enforcement. A similar provision was defeated in the House earlier in this Congress and House leaders have done nothing to enact comprehensive immigration reform. H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act, would give state and local police the authority to enforce civil immigration law violations. H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act, and H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act, will also be considered tomorrow. To reach your Member of Congress, you may call the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121. For more information contact: Eric M. Gutiérrez, Legislative Staff Attorney at (202) 293-2828.

KJ