Pitt Prof. to Address Congress on Immigration

University of Pittsburgh Law Professor David Harris will testify before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Immigration on Thursday. During the hearing, Harris will outline the dangers of forcing local police stations to enforce immigration laws, and possible alternatives to that method of enforcement. Harris says the main problem with the idea of localized immigration enforcement is that police will not be trusted in immigrant communities. "They are going to fear talking to police. Why? Because it could lead to a chain of questions and events that would get somebody deported," says Harris. Thus, the ability of officers to combat crime in these areas would be diminished. Harris says what is needed is a force of law enforcement officers specifically trained in the area of immigration that would be funded by the federal government. This way, says Harris, taxpayers would not be paying the same price for a more distracted and burdened police force.