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Washington, DC -- Today Congressman David Davis introduced an amendment to Homeland Security legislation that will provide illegal immigration tactics training to local law enforcement across the country.
“Illegal immigration is a problem that must be addressed,” Congressman David Davis said. “This amendment allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reimburse state and local law enforcement agencies participating in the voluntary 287 (g) program for the costs of sending personnel to training, including backfill costs.
“Securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws are essential for effective homeland security,” Congressman Davis said. “While these responsibilities belong to the Federal government, state and local law enforcement across the United States can be important forcer multiplier by coordinating and sharing information with Federal partners.
“Local law enforcement agents do not engage in “sweeps” or “raids” of immigrant communities under this authority; rather, they simply ensure that when they encounter, in the normal course of carrying out their duties or in a correctional setting, individuals that may be illegally in the country, they contact ICE and the 24/7 Law enforcement Support Center to determine whether the alien should be detained and transferred into Federal custody.”
“This amendment is definitely a step in the right direction, to allow local law enforcement to begin to address the issue of illegal immigration,” Congressman Davis said.
Recently, the Tennessee State House voted on a measure that would require Tennessee Highway Patrol to negotiate a memorandum of understanding between the state and the United States Department of Homeland Security concerning the enforcement of Federal immigration laws, detention and removals, and investigations in Tennessee.
The state bill also requires the commission to designate appropriate employees of the highway patrol to be trained pursuant to the memorandum.
“HB 491 has already been approved in the State Senate, but failed by a vote of 6 to 5 in the Public Safety Subcommittee,” Congressman Davis said. “I am hopeful that the bill will be reconsidered and approved as illegal immigration is a real problem that faces real people."
“These are two separate pieces of legislation, one at the state level and one at the Federal level,” Congressman Davis said. “We have a great opportunity to work together to improve the capacity of state and local law enforcement to rein in illegal immigration.”
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