Police union calls for change in immigration rule

[Peikko 1,575]

Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, said the September 2006 murder of officer Rodney Johnson and the severe injuries suffered by officer Rick Salter on March 5 are reasons to toughen immigration enforcement, including an end to the policy. Both officers were shot by illegal immigrants who had been deported from Houston, but returned to commit other crimes.

"It's a strong issue," Blankinship said. "My guys get tired of dealing with the criminal aliens out here, and it seems like the severity of the crimes is escalating and that's frustrating to the rank and file."

Give 'em in inch, they'll take a mile. How many legals will have to die or be ripped off before politicians see illegals are seen as a serious problem?

What a stupid question - born of stupid illogic.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I think politicians are ripping off the taxpayers irregardless of the illegals in the country.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Gary Blankinship, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, said the September 2006 murder of officer Rodney Johnson and the severe injuries suffered by officer Rick Salter on March 5 are reasons to toughen immigration enforcement, including an end to the policy. Both officers were shot by illegal immigrants who had been deported from Houston, but returned to commit other crimes.

"It's a strong issue," Blankinship said. "My guys get tired of dealing with the criminal aliens out here, and it seems like the severity of the crimes is escalating and that's frustrating to the rank and file."

Give 'em in inch, they'll take a mile. How many legals will have to die or be ripped off before politicians see illegals are seen as a serious problem?

What a stupid question - born of stupid illogic.

What a stupid response, born of running off at the mouth with nothing to important say.

[Peikko 1,575]

Some don't pretend to have 'important' things to say, what's your excuse?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Some don't pretend to have 'important' things to say, what's your excuse?

I don't need an excuse and I don't have to pretend. I also don't capitulate. You really have nothing . . . period.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

#######?

If someone commits a crime and you have the evidence to question or arrest them, what difference does their status make?

So if in the investigation of one crime you suspect a second.....why bother with the second?

Actually its not all that clear cut. The police can't initiate deportation proceedings - and a deportation hearing doesn't happen overnight. That begs the question over whether people should be detained indefinitely until their status is determined - which in a region with one of the largest concentrations of illegal aliens (i) may not be realistic, and (ii) may place an undue burden on the taxpayer.

If you're in jail for a crime you've already committed - you may be subject to deportation anyway as the person's status will undoubtedly come out in the trial.

A persons immigrant status has nothing to do with whether or not they can be charged. All other aspects of the arrest being above board, as long as they have been Mirandized, they can be held.

I honestly don't think ICE is going to come in and deport an alien on the lesser federal misdemeanor charge of illegal entry if there is a weightier felony charge on the table.

Yeah I doubt it - there's no incentive to do it; and they probably deport after the prison term is served anyway.

[Peikko 1,575]

Some don't pretend to have 'important' things to say, what's your excuse?

I don't need an excuse and I don't have to pretend. I also don't capitulate. You really have nothing . . . period.

You don't have to pretend but sadly, you do, all the time with your "I'm a this that and the other" twaddle setting yourself up as some authority based on nothing more than your own say so. Who wants to you 'capitulate'? I don't care if you go on all night insisting that you are something special and people must recognise it. The more you do it, the funnier I think it is. There, put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Edited May 12, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[The_Dude 1,142]

Oh it's funny some of the arguments in this thread. People simply do not want to accept some simple facts here. It is not the job of the police to enforce immigration law. Remember? We have an agency that does do that job. If you start asking every hispanic person you run across their residency status, you will see the quality of law enforcement recede.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Oh it's funny some of the arguments in this thread. People simply do not want to accept some simple facts here. It is not the job of the police to enforce immigration law. Remember? We have an agency that does do that job. If you start asking every hispanic person you run across their residency status, you will see the quality of law enforcement recede.

well another simple fact people are missing. the agency that 'enforces' immigration law, is not doing a good enough job. the HPD are asking that the law be changed. they are re-arresting & releasing the same offenders....how is that improving law enforcement? how is that helping the HPD do it duty?...protect & serve the city of Houston..yanno the ones that pay the taxes that fund the police & other gov't agencies.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Oh it's funny some of the arguments in this thread. People simply do not want to accept some simple facts here. It is not the job of the police to enforce immigration law. Remember? We have an agency that does do that job. If you start asking every hispanic person you run across their residency status, you will see the quality of law enforcement recede.

well another simple fact people are missing. the agency that 'enforces' immigration law, is not doing a good enough job. the HPD are asking that the law be changed. they are re-arresting & releasing the same offenders....how is that improving law enforcement? how is that helping the HPD do it duty?...protect & serve the city of Houston..yanno the ones that pay the taxes that fund the police & other gov't agencies.

Maybe they aren't working as well as they should be, but that doesn't change the facts....... Immigration enforcement is NOT the jurisdiction of a police department. Maybe HPD should take a look at themselves first before considering such a dramatic policy change.

[SMOKE 1,426]

are you sure that hasn't already happened? they are looking for more authority to do their job.

[Peikko 1,575]

The mayor (I think) asked for more money for ICE rather than change the remit of the police. Seems a sensible notion to me.

[The_Dude 1,142]

are you sure that hasn't already happened? they are looking for more authority to do their job.

They don't need the authority to prosecute illegal immigrants to do their job. They need ICE to do their job better.

[SMOKE 1,426]

are you sure that hasn't already happened? they are looking for more authority to do their job.

They don't need the authority to prosecute illegal immigrants to do their job. They need ICE to do their job better.

round & round we go. i understand what you're saying. do you understand me? ICE has failed & is failing to enforce the law, they want the authority to do their job. protect & serve the people of Houston.

[The_Dude 1,142]

are you sure that hasn't already happened? they are looking for more authority to do their job.

They don't need the authority to prosecute illegal immigrants to do their job. They need ICE to do their job better.

round & round we go. i understand what you're saying. do you understand me? ICE has failed & is failing to enforce the law, they want the authority to do their job. protect & serve the people of Houston.

Clearly you don't get it. If you give this authority to the police, you will decrease their ability and quality of law enforcement in certain areas. They should try to cooperate with ICE and work on getting funding for them rather than try to take over their jurisdiction.