Gettysburg Times
Pennsylvania -- A state Superior Court judge called for a grassroots effort to change federal laws which he said currently allow legal immigrants and U.S. citizens to be prosecuted for unlawful activity, but prohibits prosecution of “illegal aliens.”
“It’s happening in communities like Gettysburg and Shenandoah and Tamaqua,” Judge Correale “Corry” F. Stevens told members of the Adams County Republican Committee Thursday evening at the county ag center, “and it could happen in Black Horse Tavern and Aspers and Zora.” For example, he said state police stopped a van for speeding on an interstate and detained the four “illegals” they found inside.
“They called ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and they were told, ‘Let them go,’” Stevens said. “The policemen had no choice.”
He offered several additional examples showing that in situations that would result in arrest for legal immigrants and U.S. citizens, illegal aliens would be set free.
The lack of ICE staff and the fact that the nearest ICE office is in Philadelphia likely are part of the problem, but so is a federal law which gives federal authorities sole jurisdiction over illegal aliens in nearly every instance except murder.
“The federal policy is non-enforcement,” he said.
He contrasted the practice with procedures in France, where a person found to be in the country illegally could be jailed “if they don’t boot you out.”
He said voters should ask their federal senators and representatives to amend the federal law to give:
4 police the power to arrest;
4 county district attorneys the power to prosecute; and
4 county judges the powers to deport;
all without needing the permission of the federal government.
“They’re committing crimes and the federal government is not doing anything,” Stevens said.
The judge is a former Luzerne County state representative, district attorney and Common Pleas judge who was elected to the 15-judge state Superior Court 10 years ago.
He will appear on the November General Election ballot as a candidate for retention to that post.
Superior Court hears all criminal appeals and most civil appeals, and its rulings have the effect of law statewide unless they are overturned by the state Supreme Court.
Posted by tyne at April 29, 2007