dnronline.com
HARRISONBURG, Virginia -- Local authorities will likely be first among Virginia law enforcement agencies to have officers trained in certain aspects of federal immigration law.
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Harrisonburg Police Department are awaiting approval for a federal program that would train certain officers to identify and detain illegal immigrants who have been charged with other crimes.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has offered the program for years in other states, but is just starting it in Virginia, said Senior Special Agent Louis Morlier of ICE. The Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office has also applied for the training program.
Why It’s Needed
Rockingham County Sheriff Don Farley said the office applied for the program in September to prevent the release of illegal immigrants after they’ve served sentences for other crimes.
Local law enforcement has said it doesn’t have the resources or the jurisdiction to track and detain illegal immigrants simply for being here — that is up to the federal government, they say.
And even with the training, local authorities still wouldn’t look for illegal immigrants. Rather, they would detain them for immigration violations when they break other laws.
"We are not looking for law-abiding illegal aliens… those who are here trying to be productive members of society," Farley said.
Rockingham County Sheriff Don Farley says, "We are not looking for law-abiding illegal aliens."
Say What? Illegal? law-abiding?
Some might think Sheriff Don Farley might need a dictionary to carry out his legal official duties to uphold and enforce all laws within his commnity.
Posted by Richard at January 27, 2007