I think any candidate’s position on illegal immigration, while running for any office in Charles County, Maryland, is irrelevant. Immigration enforcement is a federal issue. The State of Maryland has very little—if any—say on immigration issues, on the County level, we certainly don’t have a say. Federal law is enforced by federal law enforcement agencies. Our local Sheriff, local police, and local elected officials play no role in those federal enforcement issues.
As to us being a “sanctuary County,” I’m assuming that you mean, ‘do we choose to not prosecute or investigate certain crimes committed by those thought to be living here without proper documentation?’ To that, I can say that our local law enforcement investigate and prosecute every violation of State, County and local law within their jurisdiction that has merit. Immigration law and thereby the enforcement of immigration law is not a State, County or local law, and it cannot be enforced by local police. To that end, we are NOT a “Sanctuary County.”
I think you might want to check your facts, or at least stop repeating the administration’s line. While I heartly agree that enforcement of immigration law should be the provincee of the federalies, all indications are that they are asleep at the switch. Prior to Arizon’s enactment of its new state law, enforcement of federal immigation laws has been routinely undertaken by local governments across this county with the expressed approval and cooperation of federal officials. Refer to Rhode Island’s locally enacted immigration enforcement law, which has been on the books and enforced locally without so much as a peep from inside the beltway. The light weight who presently occupies the oval office can’t have it both ways, even if he and his troop of henchmen are doin it the Chicago way.
