Thursday, July 08, 2010
Hey DOJ, look at this: Racial profiling is alive and well—in Rhode Island
by Larry Geller
The Boston Globe reports that Rhode Island state troopers are reporting all illegal immigrants they encounter, even on routine traffic stops, to federal ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Rhode Island’s collaboration with federal immigration authorities is controversial; critics say the practice increases racial profiling and makes immigrants afraid to help police solve crimes. [Boston Globe, R.I. troopers embrace firm immigration role, 7/6/2010]
There’s only one way they can report all illegal immigrants, and that would be by calling in everyone they stop to the feds. Of course, that’s not what is happening. The state government would fall if white folks were routinely called in.
The Boston Globe doesn’t attack the practice as strongly as many articles describing the new Arizona law that the Department of Justice is about to challenge. Still, it appears that Rhode Island may doing in the North what Arizona is doing in the South. The Globe points out that someone stopped in nearby Massachusetts for driving without a license would face only a fine and jail time, not deportation.
Shouldn’t the DOJ examine RI’s policies also? Racism in this country is by no means confined to the South.
love your blog! esp now that we're down to the weekly and the "advertistar" or whatever they call it now.
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