WASHINGTON (June 2003) -- America's many thousands of local and state law enforcement officers are poorly integrated into our homeland security efforts, especially in the area of immigration control. In fact, some jurisdictions expressly prohibit their police from cooperating with immigration authorities.
What role should local and state law enforcement have in immigration enforcement and national security? What policies can help local and state authorities fulfill their responsibilities in these areas? These questions will be addressed in a Capitol Hill panel discussion featuring two members of Congress championing legislation in support of a role for America's police in assisting the federal government with immigration law enforcement. The speakers will also include the author of a new paper on this topic, as well as a state official who has worked with the federal government on cooperation in immigration enforcement.
The panel discussion, sponsored by the Center for Immigration Studies, will take place in Room 2226 Rayburn House Office Building on Thursday, June 26, at 9 a.m.
Panelists include:
- Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
- Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA)
- James R. Edwards, Jr., author of a new Center for Immigration Studies Backgrounder, "Officers Need Backup: The Role of State and Local Police in Immigration Law Enforcement," http://cis.org/State%2526LocalPolice-ImmigrationLawEnforcement
- Haran Lowe, Assistant Attorney General, Alabama Department of Public Safety
- Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies
For more information, contact John Keeley at (202) 466-8185 or jmk@cis.org
(202) 466-8185 - fax (202) 466-8076 - center@cis.org - www.cis.org
