Troopers Would Arrest Immigrants [View All]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/06/21/troopers_would_arrest_immigrants/

Romney seeks federal OK to expand powers
By Yvonne Abraham and Scott Helman, Globe Staff  |  June 21, 2006

Governor Mitt Romney is seeking an agreement with federal authorities that would allow Massachusetts state troopers to arrest undocumented immigrants for being in the country illegally.

Currently, State Police have no authority to arrest people on the basis of their immigration status alone, said Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom. If they arrest immigrants for violations of state law, troopers can call a centralized US Immigration and Customs Enforcement center in Vermont to check on their status, and can detain immigrants if federal officials request it.

Under the agreement Romney is seeking, troopers would have greatly expanded powers: They could check an immigrant's legal status during routine patrols such as during a traffic stop and decide whether the immigrant should be held.

------ Way to go, Mitt.

I know that there are illegal immigrants in Massachusetts. From my experience, most of them are hard-working Brazilians. One guy I know worked his butt off in a restaurant kitchen; saved his money and has just returned to Brazil where he purchased a small ranch.