An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Wrong!
“This (immigration) is a demagogue issue. . . . There is a sense out there that there is some simple solution. I think all of you know the following rule of thumb: For every complicated problem, there is a simple solution that’s wrong.” Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn
Only weeks on the job and he’s already talking sense.
Flynn, responding to a question in a meeting with the Editorial Board on Wednesday, said he doesn’t have plans to alter how the Police Department deals with the immigrant community, a significant part of which he and everyone else knows is undocumented.
Other local departments can learn from the common sense the chief had to offer on this topic. Police departments elsewhere in the country seemingly want to turn themselves into immigration officers. A bad move. Flynn noted how counterproductive this is.
“If someone shot you, is our first question, ‘What’s your immigration status?’ or ‘Can you describe your assailant?’ ”
He said he was satisfied with the department’s current policy. Which is: “If you’re a felon, we’re happy to get rid of you and notify the appropriate authorities.”
In the routine course of business, however, it benefits everyone if any victim or witness to crime feels free to contact and speak freely with local law enforcement, he seemed to be saying. He’s right.
The majority of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country are not committing crimes. The chief estimated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has maybe 33,000 slots for the illegal immigrants they catch. Deportation? Twelve million, 33,000. The math doesn’t work.
And there’s this: “Do you really think they’re going to come at 2 o’clock in the morning in District 7 to pick up a bricklayer who just got caught without a driver’s license and is here illegally?” the chief asked.
No, neither do we, though there are many in this country who wrongly believe in the enforcement-first-and-only policy.
“Pretending that there is a role for local law enforcement of significance in this is disingenuous,” the chief said.
Right again.
Wrong. I’d suggest Milwaukee be prepared for an influx of illegals. Once the word gets out that the city isn’t concerned about the legal status of people, the flow in is much greater than the flow out. If you look at cities who are cracking down, you’ll notice a serious exodus. I’d say, odds are, the crime rate will drop too.
I don’t want victims of crime, no matter what their status might be, NOT to come forward. However, if you send the message that you aren’t going to tolerate law breaking (aka breaking in through the back door), the crime rate just might dip a bit.
Oh, and just a little correction for the MJS folks, it’s not ‘immigration’, it’s an ILLEGAL invasion.
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