Wow, Jan. 31 was a great edition. There were several meaningful stories about ICE, and pages A10 and A11 contain outstanding letters and commentary (even Joseph Mistick got things right for a change).
I want to emphasize my agreement with the editorial “Reliable funding matters more than generosity” (Jan. 31, TribLive). The people we elect to public office have it backwards. They should properly fund public services before charitable services. Neglecting, specifically in this case, ambulance and snow plow services, to the point charity is needed to keep services functioning, is dereliction of duty. Vote wisely.
On ICE and local police cooperation: ICE is an abomination. I’m confident the way it goes about its business will not stand. However, there is a reason local law enforcement (LE) should work with ICE. LE has local knowledge, which is valuable in reducing risk. Left to their own limited local knowledge, risks are higher and ICE acts accordingly. Local knowledge (and inherently included in that is some oversight and greater transparency into ICE) reduces risk and cost.
Eventually illegal immigrants will come to be dealt with in an ordered and constitutionally proper fashion involving all three branches of government. Right now ICE is pretty much on its own; neither the courts nor legislative functions are effectively involved. Eventually, illegal immigrants will be dealt with under considered and proper regulation and routine administrative procedures involving LE and courts. The sooner we get these relationships, information flows and procedures in place the better. Having LE cooperating with ICE now begins to establish this.
Jim Baker
Greensburg