Prince William County has approved new rules for the cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. Basically, the local police now will be able to ask for documents relating to a person’s immigration status when they are either arrested or stopped by local police. Obviously, this is a good thing. This allows local police to actually know what’s going on in their town. If someone is illegal, well, then they should be deported. The key word, once again, is ILLEGAL!

Now of course the Washington Post paints this picture as doom and gloom. Oh, the poor illegal immigrants:

Within months, traffic stops in Prince William County may carry serious consequences for thousands of residents, as police officers begin checking the immigration status of anyone who breaks the law, whether for speeding or shoplifting, if they believe that person is in the country illegally.

Check that quote. “immigration status of anyone who BREAKS the law”!!! This is the problem in this country. We are too worried about hurting someones feelings rather than enforcing laws, which, by the way, this country was founded on!

But, as the Washington Post also points out, these new rules are only in place so that the police can cooperate more closely with the Federal immigration authorities:

Police Chief Charlie T. Deane has appeared on Spanish-language radio stations to explain the policies and has allocated $25,000 for informational purposes, saying that misconceptions are widespread on both sides of the debate.

“On the one hand, many people expect us to do more,” Deane said. “And I think there is a perception that the things police have done in the past as part of their normal duties, such as sobriety checkpoints, are now seen as asking for documents.”

“In reality, officers will be carrying out their duties as they normally have,” he said.

Under the new rules, officers will cooperate more closely with federal immigration authorities and check the status of anyone who breaks a law or local ordinance if there is probable cause to believe the person is an illegal immigrant. Officials say routine traffic stops may last several hours, as patrol officers sort through foreign identification cards and visa categories and consult with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

But Deane said county police will not enforce the measures until all of his 537 officers are trained in determining legal status, which will take months. Classes won’t begin until at least January.

A seven-officer Criminal Alien Unit created by the board’s vote yesterday won’t materialize overnight, either. First, the officers will need to be trained by federal agents, and the county is waiting in line along with dozens of other localities targeting illegal immigrants.

This is only the beginning. Local towns all over the country are taking it upon themselves to protect their citizens, which so far, the Federal government has failed to do. This President is failing us more and more.

Here’s a Neil Cavuto segment on this matter: