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Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney struggled to explain his behavior with immigration policies in an intense meeting held by the Equal Opportunity Commission Wednesday night.
Mahoney and his department currently report names of arrested illegal immigrants to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a practice not required by law.
Mahoney was bombarded with questions from citizens and commission members, most of whom were displeased with the procedure. Many people worried about being confronted by an enforcement officer for fear of unjustly being asked about their citizenship.
“In 2006, I gave every member of this community a commitment that the attitudes and the interaction of members of the Dane County Sheriff’s office would not be racist,” Mahoney said. “It would have no implications to the individual’s skin color, race or sex, and I stand here today making that same commitment.”
Angered speakers also shared their knowledge of domestic violence, drug trafficking and employment issues going unnoticed because they said illegal immigrants are too scared to contact law enforcement.
Others shared personal stories in which family members or friends were in jail and at risk of being deported because they committed minor traffic offenses.
A concerned brother of an illegal immigrant fought back tears as he spoke for his brother who is in jail.
“It seems very unfair to me that for such a minor infraction he’s being treated this way,” he said.
Equal Opportunities Commission member Shiva Bidar-Sielaff addressed the sheriff on behalf of attendees in opposition to the present policies.
“We have tried to speak to you, and we have felt that the doors have been shut,” Bidar-Sielaff said, responding to Mahoney’s account of addressing these problems.
Mahoney stated this method is used to identify people only in Dane County jails, and said he feels obligated to report to ICE.
Members of the commission requested written documents from Mahoney to clarify the jail’s booking process.
Although no conclusions were reached at the meeting, several attendees thanked the Equal Opportunity Commission for giving them the chance to speak directly to the sheriff.
Mahoney and the board members agreed there is a necessity for increased communication between him and the public. Although there was no solid closure toward the end of the meeting, Bidar-Sielaff assured the audience their concerns and opinions will not be overlooked.
Mahoney made a commitment to openly work with the public and the EOC, and they will meet again in a couple of months to ensure he is in fact taking action.
“I heard the passion tonight,” Mahoney said. “I will continue to work for leaders in our community who wish to work cooperatively and honestly with integrity to address your concerns.”
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http://www.unidosagainstdv.org
they are fighting to provide Latinos with a way to combat domestic violence and ICE’s reign of terror.
By the way: Immigrants are never illegal, they are only undocumented. I suggest you change your language in the future.
IP hash: 411e123d
I really hope the Sheriff comes around on this issue. He is a great law enforcement officer and has been a great Sheriff with this exception.
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“Immigrants are never illegal, they are only undocumented. I suggest you change your language in the future.”
Immigrants are legal only when they follow the proper procedure. Any law enforcement official who reports illegal aliens to ICE is doing an excellent job. I suggest you save your sympathy for the millions of US citizens who can’t find work because illegal aliens got the jobs they might’ve had.
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They took our jooooobs!!!
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So bank robbers aren’t illegal? They are just un-documented un-depositors?
“employment issues going unnoticed because they said illegal immigrants are too scared to contact law enforcement” because they stole somebody else’s identity to get the job, or they work for cash and evade all taxes.
Identity theft and tax evasion are crimes, just like entering the USA illegally is a crime.
IP hash: 6fd913c1
“Immigrants are legal only when they follow the proper procedure. Any law enforcement official who reports illegal aliens to ICE is doing an excellent job. I suggest you save your sympathy for the millions of US citizens who can’t find work because illegal aliens got the jobs they might’ve had.”
actually the millions of US citizens unemployed would still not do half the work illegal immigrants do. Blaming them for unemployment isn’t fair. How many Americans out there would be willing to wash dishes in a kitchen for $6 an hour? not even the bums on the street are willing to do that, and it isn’t because the pay isn’t fair, if you have a need to survive and put food on the table, you will work the shitty $6hr job, most Americans don’t have the drive that these immigrants. If anything, Americans are to blame for this because they also pay these immigrants below what they should in order to save some money. Don’t blame the immigrants for something the citizens of this country started and continue to do.
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Humm people admit they are here illegal and then say they shouldn’t be treated like criminals for traffic violations. My guess is you aren’t being treated like a criminal for the traffic violation, but because you are a criminal for being here.
In addition I don’t like the underage drinking enforcement, should I cry when I get caught and say I can’t believe you enforced the law? No when I drink I know I am taking a risk, when you run across the border you know you are breaking the law and accept the risk. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.
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“Immigrants are legal only when they follow the proper procedure. Any law enforcement official who reports illegal aliens to ICE is doing an excellent job. I suggest you save your sympathy for the millions of US citizens who can’t find work because illegal aliens got the jobs they might’ve had.”
this isnt going to help the situation - i suggest you chose you words better and not perpetuate the already harsh conditions. jobs that US citizens may have had are being filled by undocumented immigrants because US citizens don’t want them - for whatever reasons. no one is stealing anything from anyone. the jobs are out there and it just so happens that some people are more willing than others to take them.
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Brandon,
Immigrants are only legal when they have followed the immigration laws and come to the USA legally. I suggest you get your head out of your lower orifice and support our laws. Anything less is anarchy.
Sheriff Dave Mahoney is enforcing the laws of Dane County, the State of Wisconsin, and the United States of America. That is precisely the job of a law enforcement officer. Anything less is personally selective enforcement of our laws and that also leads to anarchy.
All citizens should laud Sheriff Mahoney for his stalwart dedication to uniform law enforcement, despite misguided pressure from politicians, illegal aliens, and anarchists alike.
Secure the borders. Deport illegal aliens. Si se puede!
Invictus Maneo
IP hash: a04e82b2
The sheriff’s department should leave the immigration issue to the courts. The minute any person sets foot on our sacred soil, they have certain inalienable rights. They shouldn’t be made afraid to avail themselves of those rights, e.g., police protection, because of possible deportation. Dane County should foster an environment where criminal offenses committed by any person, citizen or not, are willingly reported.
And any US citizen who wants a job as a dishwasher, hotel maid, roofer, or any other low-paying menial job should apply for it — employers are waiting with open arms for any applicant with a valid social security number, no criminal record, and no drug problem.
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Immigrants do not take jobs. Our country’s economy actually depends on them. Immigrants perform labor in factories and on farms that no American does in modern society. Ever wonder who actually works in Madison’s beloved Oscar Mayer meat factory? Its immigrants.