Bryson: State Must Notify Feds About Illegal Immigrants Who Commit Crimes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2006

CONTACT: Contact: Lance Frizzell
Phone: (615) 727-0941 x15

Bryson: State Must Notify Feds About Illegal Immigrants Who Commit Crimes

Bredesen opposed policy to allow state, federal immigration enforcement

(NASHVILLE) ? Senator Jim Bryson (R-Franklin) today called on Governor Bredesen to drop his opposition to a policy that would allow state law enforcement to hand over to federal authorities illegal immigrants charged with criminal acts. The move comes after a Mt. Juliet couple was killed in an auto accident by an illegal immigrant who has been arrested 14 times previously.

?This is a tragedy for the family and it could have been prevented,? said Sen. Bryson. ?It is common sense that state law should require illegal immigrants who commit crimes be immediately turned over to federal authorities. In addition, it is incumbent upon federal officials to respond when they are contacted by state law enforcement.?

Just two months ago the state Senate passed legislation that would have allowed state law enforcement to turn over to federal authorities illegal immigrants who commit crimes. Bredesen vigorously opposed Senate Bill 2426 and spoke out several times against it.

?I hope the Governor will now rethink his position on this issue,? said Sen. Bryson. ?I supported the legislation ? which received not a single no vote in the state senate - so we could prevent tragedies like this. It is a Governor?s job to lead, not oppose common sense solutions supported by the elected representatives of the people.?

Gustavo Reyes Garcia, 28, is charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of a Mt. Juliet couple nine days ago. He was fleeing from police at the time. It is his 15th arrest on a variety of charges.

Recent statements on the issue from Gov. Bredesen and his campaign staff:

?I don?t think it?s appropriate for the state or we ought to be spending a lot of our money having the Highway Patrol expanded to go out and look for illegal immigrants or something,? Bredesen said last week, adding that he thinks immigration is a national issue.

Will Pinkston, a spokesman for Gov. Phil Bredesen?s reelection campaign, said Bredesen believes illegal immigration is a ?national issue needing a coordinated national response.? Pinkston would not offer details of Bredesen?s beliefs on what he?d like to see Congress enact concerning immigration.

?It absolutely is a national issue,? Pinkston said. ?It?s not something that Tennessee is going to solve on its own.?

?The state Senate, in which Bryson serves, recently passed three bills targeted at curbing illegal immigration.

One allows the Tennessee Highway Patrol to take undocumented worker into custody?

Pinkston wasn?t aware of Bredesen?s stance on two of the bills, but said the governor is not in favor of allowing state troopers to take illegal immigrants into custody.

?The governor doesn?t think it makes sense to deputize the police force to deal with federal laws,? Pinkston said.

http://www.brysonforgovernor.com/news/show.asp?id=26