So here's a story in the Chron about the runoff, and that can mean only one thing: Roy Morales gets to talk about his one issue.
Melissa Noriega, who nearly won the race for the At-large 3 seat outright in the regular election last month, criticized her opponent, Roy Morales, accusing him of using "fear as a tactic to try to get people worked up."At issue are local policies that Morales says make the city a "sanctuary" for illegal immigrants; he wants Houston police to do more to take them into custody.
Noriega, a Houston Independent School District special projects manager, said Monday that immigration enforcement is the federal government's responsibility, a position shared by Mayor Bill White and Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt.
"We're short of police now," she said after casting her ballot Monday afternoon. "Taking police resources to investigate things that are federal responsibilities takes away from people being safe."
Houston police changed their policies last fall, and they now work more closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. But Morales, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, said the "sanctuary" perception remains, in part because the city spent federal grant funds on a controversial day-labor facility last year.
"I'm against sanctuary," he said. "I'm against day-labor centers."
The police now allow federal agents in city jails, and they detain wanted immigrants. Morales, who also voted Monday, said police should arrest illegal immigrants they encounter in traffic stops.
So Roy is against the "perception" of sanctuary, and thinks the cops should arrest illegal immigrants at traffic stops. Here's a question to ponder: If you were to be pulled over for speeding and asked to prove that you were in this country legally, would you be able to do it? I don't know about you, but I don't carry my birth certificate or passport on me as a matter of course. This sort of approach could keep the cops and tow-truck drivers very busy, to say the least.
Of course, I don't look like an illegal immigrant, so I won't be getting harassed. Those of you who aren't lucky enough to be a pasty white boy like me, well, you're on your own in Roy's world.
I'm against the perception of stupid public policy. Which is why the choice for City Council is clear.
How many of you have voted yet? If you have, were you the only one at the early voting center at the time? Posted by Charles Kuffner on June 06, 2007 to Election 2007
Yes and Yes. They told me that they had 19 voters Monday and 47 yesterday at the Marriott on the West side.
Posted by: Lyn Wall on June 6, 2007 8:43 AMKuff,
"Of course, I don't look like an illegal immigrant, so I won't be getting harassed. "
What does an illegal immigrant look like?
Posted by: John cobarruvias on June 6, 2007 10:09 AMHere's a question to ponder: If you were to be pulled over for speeding and asked to prove that you were in this country legally, would you be able to do it? I don't know about you, but I don't carry my birth certificate or passport on me as a matter of course. This sort of approach could keep the cops and tow-truck drivers very busy, to say the least.
Why should the Houston police stop at enforcing just one Federal law--immigration? Why not really cut them loose to enforce all Federal laws?
We could set up police roadblocks at all the wealthy gated communities around Houston and have the Houston police audit everyone's tax returns as they exit. Tax evasion is just as serious of a Federal crime as being in the country without a visa (or with the wrong visa like those who are overstaying tourist visas). I bet the Houston police could net all sorts of tax cheats that way.
We could also send the local police around to all the refineries and chemical plants looking for OSHA and EPA emissions violations. I bet they would find hundreds of them. Illegal pollutants is really a FAR more serious crime than mowing lawns without the right papers. It actually kills people.
We could send the Houston police around to all the new subdivisions popping up to check that no wetlands are being filled in violation of EPA clean water act regulations.
Give me some time and I could think of a hundred more Federal regulations that we could put the Houston police to work on in addition to immigration enforcement. We could probably use an additional 10,000 Houston police officers to enforce all the Federal laws and regulations that are being violated daily in Houston.
Or maybe, just maybe, we should expect the local police to enforce state and local laws and the Federal government to enforce Federal laws.
Posted by: Kent from Waco on June 6, 2007 10:15 AMBill Kelly has voted, and it was not for Martha Wong's candidate.
Posted by: Bill on June 6, 2007 11:49 AM