El Paso leaders today will denounce Republican-backed state legislation that would require local authorities to enforce U.S. immigration laws.
U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, state Sen. José Rodríguez, County Judge Veronica Escobar, Mayor John Cook and Gomecindo Lopez from the Sheriff's Office will participate in a news conference on how such legislation imposes extra responsibilities on local law enforcement without more funding. They believe such legislation would keep undocumented immigrants who are victims of crimes or who witness a crime from coming forward.
The conference will be at 11:45 a.m. in the lobby of the Cortez Building, 310 N. Mesa.
“Whether or not someone is undocumented, they shouldn't feel afraid to cooperate with police to help solve and report crimes,” Reyes said. “El Paso is the safest city in America because our local law enforcement officers focus on crime, not on immigration matters. If the state legislature succeeds in passing such a law, it will undoubtedly jeopardize our city’s safest city designation because undocumented immigrants will be fearful of cooperating with police and sheriff’s deputies. It will turn border communities into havens for criminals, who will prey on undocumented immigrants and exploit their fears and silence."
I'm so tired of the phrase "Undocumented Workers". It is a liberal attempt to take the focus away from the fact that these people are law breakers. That's right, if you sneack into our country with no documentation, you are an illegal alien. If you feel offended by being grouped with criminals, then don't break the law. See? It's really quite simple.
Posted by: someonesaid | January 28, 2011 at 01:22 PM