The Davis-Oliver Act Would Restore Meaningful Interior Enforcement of U.S. Immigration Laws, Says FAIR
(June 23, 2015 — Washington, D.C.) — The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in support of The Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, introduced by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest. FAIR also supports companion House legislation, sponsored by House Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.):
“The Davis-Oliver Act adopts the same common sense approach to immigration law enforcement that is routinely practiced in all other areas of law enforcement. Congress has repeatedly expressed its intent that local and state police should participate collaboratively with federal officials in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Despite that, the Obama administration and illegal alien-friendly local governments have succeeded in erecting firewalls that protect illegal aliens while compromising the security and the interests of Americans. The bill would begin the process of tearing down those barriers that serve no purpose other than to shield lawbreakers.
Appropriately, the bill honors two California sheriffs’ deputies whose cold-blooded murders were a direct consequence of the sorts of policies this bill seeks to end.
“This bill would provide local law enforcement the resources they need to be part of the solution to illegal immigration, while imposing meaningful penalties against local governments that persist in obstructing immigration enforcement. It is the sort of seamless cooperation that even ICE Director Sarah Saldaña candidly acknowledged is necessary, before being forced to retract her comments under pressure from political operatives in the administration.
“The legislation recognizes that U.S. immigration laws exist to protect the safety and security of the American people and that all law enforcement agencies, as well as state and local governments, have a sworn obligation to work together to see that those laws are carried out.
“Appropriately, the bill honors two California sheriffs’ deputies whose cold-blooded murders were a direct consequence of the sorts of policies this bill seeks to end. They are among the thousands of Americans who have suffered needless tragedies at the hands of criminal aliens who the Obama administration refuses to remove from the country, or who have been shielded from removal by local sanctuary policies.
“FAIR congratulates Sen. Jeff Sessions for introducing Davis-Oliver Act and for his tireless efforts to represent the interests of the American people, who are the primary stakeholders in U.S. immigration policy.”