With a criminal federal government,
good that we have states. Unfortunately some
states have gone criminal (California, etc.)
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States urged to act on illegal aliens
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070610-122753-4844r.htm

An Ohio sheriff who billed the federal government for the cost of
jailing criminal aliens and asked Mexico to reimburse him in his fight
against Mexican-based drug rings says the Senate's failure to pass an
immigration-reform bill is reason enough for states to target illegal
aliens themselves.
"It seems that maybe the 'silent majority' was heard after all by
federal legislators," said Richard K. Jones, the sheriff of Butler
County, Ohio. "No one I spoke with liked the feds' idea of watered-down
immigration reform."
Sheriff Jones, who called on state officials last week to issue a
"resolution of nonsupport" for the federal reform proposal, said the
bill's demise means that Ohio -- and other states -- should enact
legislation to deal with what he called a "continuing
illegal-immigration crisis."
"Let's create stricter state laws to go after employers who hire
persons who are in this state illegally," he said. "Also, let's make
English the official language of the state. Those who live in Ohio
should know our language. Taxpayers should not have to pay for
interpreters in schools, and U.S. citizens living here shouldn't have to
learn another language."
Sheriff Jones, along with state Rep. Courtney Combs, will call on
House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate President Bill Harris to help enact
legislation aimed at addressing illegal-immigration issues.
The sheriff said certain aspects of the immigration crisis cannot
be dealt with at the state level -- such as sealing and securing the
borders and eliminating amnesty for those present illegally -- but he
said states can help themselves in seeking to lessen the problem.
"If we would make it a crime to be in Ohio illegally and local law
enforcement could charge offenders with that as a state criminal
offense, then we probably could get the federal government to deport
those offenders," Sheriff Jones said. "Now is the time for Ohio to show
the rest of the country how to deal with immigration problems."
Lawmakers in other states have sought to make illegal aliens
subject to arrest under state and local criminal-trespassing laws since
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Homeland Security
agency responsible for deporting illegal aliens, generally does not
respond to pick up illegals unless they have committed a crime.
Last year, Sheriff Jones billed Homeland Security $125,000 for the
cost of jailing illegal aliens in his county, saying he was angry the
federal government had failed in its responsibility to keep illegals out
of the United States. The bill was never paid.
Although the sheriff told The Washington Times the federal
government might not be legally obligated, he intended to send similar
notices until the federal government gained control of the border.
"Why should Butler County taxpayers have to pay for jail costs
associated with people we don't believe should ever have been in this
country to begin with, let alone this state or county?" Sheriff Jones
said. "They are in my jail because they have committed crimes here, and
it's time the federal government should at least pay for the criminals
they let stay here.
"If they don't want to pay for them, then they can deport them," he
said.
Sheriff Jones, a 17-year veteran of the Ohio Department of
Rehabilitation and Corrections until his 1993 appointment as chief
deputy in Butler County and his election as sheriff in 2004, also called
on Mexico to authorize the payment of $61,141 for "fair compensation for
reimbursement" of costs and other related expenses for the most recent
marijuana arrests in Butler County.
"It would be really nice if they pay, but I honestly don't think
they will," he said. "My real goal is to get their attention and make
them want to do something about this. I am angered at all the problems I
am forced to face and Butler County residents are forced to pay for."
Sheriff Jones blames the Bush administration, Congress and Mexico
for failing to address the problem of immigration, adding that taxpayers
are "fed up with this stuff."
"As the local sheriff, I keep my ear to the ground, and I hear what
the people are saying. I have the bully pulpit, and my constituents
don't, so I am determined to speak for them," he said. "This is not
rocket science. I intend to continue to bring this problem to the
attention of anyone who will listen."