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This talk explores the principles, implications, and consequences of the federal policy of mass deportation and the involvement of local police in immigration enforcement.
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The Conscription of Local Police for the Federal Policy of Mass Deportation Doris Marie Provine, Arizona State University 1stCrimmigration Control Conference October 11 – 12, 2012 University of Coimbra Coimbra, Portugal
Organization of this talk: • Principles in enforcement policy. • Devolution, a policy for our era. • Consequences for immigrants. • Implications for public policy.
1stprinciple of immigration enforcement: Institutional capacity • No capacity, no federal control = 1770s – 1880s – so called “lost era” of immigration control when all controls were local. • Limited capacity, limited controls = 1880s – 1930s – federal rules at ports of entry; localities free to enforce their own rules. • Naturalization = the exception that proves the rule.
2nd principle of immigration enforcement: Supply and demand • Raids occur when demand for immigrant labor is slack, other things being equal = 1930s – 1960s – • Massive multi-state sweeps during downturns. • Civil rights not a concern at this time • Local police make up for the “enforcement gap”
3rd principle of immigration enforcement: larger social trends matter (in this case legalization) • Civil rights era --> even immigrants have some due process rights = 1970s – 2000s –legally correct raids, increasing in frequency with popular pressure. • Postville 2008 = the exception that proves the rule.
Globalization breeds anxiety • Global competitiveness demands high legal immigration. • Outsourcing option makes employment less secure, less remunerative. • Porous borders needed to attract investment, tourism, and trade. • Shrinking middle class, cultural hegemony threatened, economy seems vulnerable.
But also weakens the capacity of central governments to respond: • Demands for a secure border have outpaced federal resources. Vis Prop. 187 (1994 CA). • Nationalization of immigration experience increases pressure. • Local politicians see an opportunity..
The solution? Devolution • Devolution a familiar strategy in other contexts under American federalism. • Local police have always been valued as a “force multiplier.” • The federal government can anticipate enthusiasm from states to assist.
Devolution in law • 1996: Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act sets up 287(g) training option for local police (jail, patrol). Power delegated through memoranda of agreement. • 2002: Memo from Attorney General of US gives local police authority to arrest felons with immigration violations. (direct executive action) • 2005: Data sharing begins – immigrant violators incorporated into criminal data bases. (indirect administrative action)
Devolution evolves • From 287(g) to Secure Communities: • From voluntary to mandatory • From assistance in arrest and booking to all data shared • Scope!! • From 63 participating agencies to all jails (every holding facility in US). • From less than 1500 officers to all persons with law-enforcement authority – including conservation officers, city police, state troopers….
Relevant AZ history • 1911 - Statehood borders decided on racial grounds. • 1920s– efforts to prefer white workers (leads to Supreme Court suit) • Restrictive covenants. • Churches segregated. • 1953 legal segregation ends. • Still reflected in housing and education patterns.
Relevant AZ laws • 1994 Chandler Roundup – results in CR suit. • 2004 Prop 200 – Denies social services, requires providers to report unauthorized residents, proof of citizenship. • 2005 Anti-trafficking law (see below). • 2006 – Prop. 100 – denies bail to unauthorized residents, no punitive damages, English only, no in-state tuition.
In 2006, anti-trafficking law interpreted to make being smuggled a crime 1427 co-conspirators, 244 coyotes
Add to this • 287(g) agreements allow Maricopa sheriff to arrest immigrants and book them for pick up by federal agents. • Crime suppression sweeps in immigrant neighborhoods (677 arrests). • 2008 Legal Workers Act (327 immigrant arrests)
SB1070 • Provides state laws to support more arrests. • Requires all local police agencies to participate to the maximum, or face lawsuit • Makes immigration scrutiny part of every arrest where officer’s suspicions aroused. • These parts of SB1070 are now in effect.
Result? In past several months, more than 5000 calls for information, mostly on how to establish guardianships for one’s children after deportation.
A new era of immigration policing • Federal government will continue to demand local help…. But on its terms and with only limited oversight. • Localities will have lots of room for slippage at state, local, and individual levels. • Immigrants will have to consider worst case scenarios – all police are suspect. • Communities will be less safe with loss of community policing.