Avedisian sees no need to adopt immigration ordinances

Posted 3/30/17

The ACLU of Rhode Island is urging officials in all 39 of the state's municipalities to adopt a comprehensive ordinance to protect their immigrant communities from constitutionally dubious federal immigration requests." Mayor Scott Avedisian said Monday"

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Avedisian sees no need to adopt immigration ordinances

Posted

The ACLU of Rhode Island is urging officials in all 39 of the state’s municipalities to adopt a “comprehensive ordinance to protect their immigrant communities from constitutionally dubious federal immigration requests.”

Mayor Scott Avedisian said Monday that it is not the role of the city police department to be immigration officers.

“I think that both the Colonel and I have stated numerous times that we do not believe it is the city police department's role to be immigration officers,” he said. “Because that is the policy of the Department, I do not [think] we need any legislation.” Many Rhode Island residents and public officials have expressed serious concerns about the federal administration’s efforts to compel local jurisdictions to support its immigration agenda, the ACLU said in a statement. A draft ordinance sent to Rhode Island’s mayors, police chiefs and city councils includes such provisions as requiring judicial warrants before honoring ICE detainers; assisting crime victims who may be eligible for special immigration status; rejecting participation in a program, known as 287(g), that “essentially deputizes local police to serve as immigration agents;” and avoiding other forms of engagement in immigration enforcement that can adversely affect public safety and undermine good police-community relations. In a letter accompanying the draft ordinance, the ACLU noted that “ordinances like this one promote public safety by maintaining and encouraging positive police-community relations. Residents serve as witnesses, report crime, and otherwise assist law enforcement. The foundation for this cooperation can often be destroyed when local police are viewed as an extension of the immigration system…” The ordinance, the letter added, “is fully consistent with federal law, and does not bar police officers from continuing to cooperate with ICE in enforcing immigration law when backed by judicial authority or otherwise properly mandated by federal law.” Furthermore, the letter pointed out, many officials are unaware that they have “no legal obligation to honor immigration civil detainer requests, and in fact, may face legal liability for doing so.” Recently, for example, the ACLU of Rhode Island successfully sued on behalf of a Providence resident and U.S. citizen who was subjected to a strip-search and held overnight by the RI Department of Corrections – the result of honoring an unlawful federal immigration detainer. In response to the Trump Administration’s threat to withhold funds from jurisdictions that fail to direct resources towards federal immigration priorities, the ACLU of Rhode Island said that the Administration is likely to encounter “substantial constitutional hurdles” if it attempts to follow through on that pledge.

“The ACLU of Rhode Island is prepared to take action to protect municipalities that adopt immigrant-supportive policies and practices,” said Steven Brown, Executive Director. “We urge our officials to proactively protect all of Rhode Island’s residents and uphold the rights outlined in the Constitution.”

Comments

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  • davebarry109

    People, the ACLU was founded by communists and is designed to tear apart the fabric of our great country. Don't get into bed with these commies.

    Thursday, March 30, 2017 Report this

  • davebarry109

    People, the ACLU was founded by communists and is designed to tear apart the fabric of our great country. Don't get into bed with these commies.

    Thursday, March 30, 2017 Report this

  • davebarry109

    ALSO, ANY COP WORTH HIS SALT CAN CALL ICE ON HIS/HER OWN AND REPORT ANYTHING THEY LIKE.

    Thursday, March 30, 2017 Report this

  • Justanidiot

    Plus, why wood any emmigrunt move two warwick. dey is smarter than that

    Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    The Anti-American Communist Liberals Union was pretty quiet the last 8 years; now that Golden Boy is gone, it's time for them to join the comical "Resist!" movement- I'm getting a bit tired of the toddlers, but there seems to be no end to their tantrum- it's going to be a loooong 8-16 years.

    Thursday, April 6, 2017 Report this