We need a new immigration process, one that restores respect to the rule of law, allows for productive and effective policing of our local communities and honors the values of freedom and hard work that generations of new Americans have come here to pursue.
That’s why I have added my voice to the growing chorus coming from all corners of the country, calling on Congress to act on immigration reform as soon as possible this fall. The House of Representatives must find a way forward on reform that adheres to our values and moves us forward.
During Congress’ August recess, I was proud to join faith and business leaders here to call for broad immigration reform that acknowledges the dignity of each person, effectively regulates the entry and stay of immigrants in this country, and addresses the needs of the American economy. Not just here but around the country, similar groups of “Bibles, Badges and Business” leaders organized dozens of district-level events to support members of Congress and urge reform.
From the law enforcement perspective, we need reform to remove barriers to community policing and to use our limited resources effectively. Our current system puts too much of the onus of enforcing national immigration laws on local law enforcement; that is the job of the federal government. Local law enforcement officers don’t have the training, time or resources to fulfill that mission effectively.
As a police chief, I fully understand prioritization, and our current immigration enforcement and deportation system does not fit the bill. The people who pose a risk to our country and our communities are not the ones who are being deported — certainly not the only ones.
Fixing our legal immigration system will reduce illegal immigration, give our government control over the process and reduce the harmful practice of criminal smuggling. We can’t have a part of our community that’s afraid to call the police. That encourages crime rather than helping us prevent it.
Turning state and local police into immigration enforcers — as one bill under House consideration would mandate — is clearly not the answer. Not only does it misdirect resources, but it creates barriers within our community to public safety, where trust is essential.
Public safety increases when everyone in the community can trust and be confident in their police department — not worried that calling us could land the caller, a family member or a friend in immigration detention. Our relationship to our community is crucial; our broken immigration system, along with efforts to engage local law enforcement in immigration enforcement, undermines our mission.
As it stands, our immigration system forces our hardworking neighbors to live in the shadows, and it tears families apart. Aspiring Americans are part of our communities and deserve to be treated with dignity and given an opportunity to contribute fully to our country. If we don’t address the people who are here unlawfully, we still will not have solved the problem.
When undocumented immigrants without criminal backgrounds are registered and have legal status, we in law enforcement can focus our resources on criminals or more serious violators. Reform must provide immigrants with an opportunity to earn legal status and eventual citizenship.
And the moment is now. Bipartisan immigration reform has momentum unrivaled by any other issue, and the House of Representatives must continue to move responsible reform forward.
Dayton is a welcoming community for immigrants, and we are the better for it. It’s no wonder that faith, law enforcement and business leaders here and elsewhere are stepping up to help Congress get to yes on immigration reform.
The sooner they act, the sooner our community and others will be safer and stronger under a new immigration process that honors our values.
For our communities and our country, we need broad immigration reform now.
RICHARD S. BIEHL IS DIRECTOR & CHIEF OF POLICE, DAYTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
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