Research Assignment on Enforcement of Immigration Laws

Enforcement of Immigration Laws
Name
Institution
Date
Explain whether enforcement of immigration laws should occur at the local, state,
and/or federal level.
States have increasingly played a more prominent role in enforcing immigration laws with less partnership with declining partnership with the federal government (Michaud, 2007). Even as the local and state government have adopted separate immigration laws and enforced them there is a need for broader partnership with federal agencies where necessary. Federal preemption creates uncertainties because of federal regulations, while the local and federal government should be more active in responding to illegal immigration (Ting, 2008). At the same time, the enforcement of immigration laws at the federal level ensures that the activities of law enforcers at the local and state level are constitutional. States at the southern border with Mexico, especially Arizona have passed or are in the process of implementing strict anti-immigration laws. This is consistent with the challenges that these states face from unauthorized immigration, while the federal government officials can support comprehensive immigration policy reforms to avoid contractions with immigration laws at the local and state level.
Explain at least one challenge related to enforcing the laws at the local level
There are challenges with enforcing immigration laws as there is a risk of ethnic profiling and violation of federal immigration laws (Stodder & Rippeon, 2009). In the case of Arizona, the local officials have focused their attention on Latino people, and sometimes violating their constitutional and civil rights while furthering discrimination. In such cases, there are at risk of anti discrimination suits in their efforts to deal with illegal immigration. There are more aliens in the country than the law enforcement officers, and at the local level it may be difficult to follow to enforce immigration la...