Why is it that Local and State LEO's can enforce Federal Gun Laws, but not Federal Immigration Laws?

This is not ment as a slam I truely would like to know. I have asked the Local Leo's and none of them could really explain it.


AdTechArms

I'm a little confused here,  what federal firearms laws are you talking about?  I know of no authority to enforce ANY kind of Federal gun law given to the local level.

Here is an example,

Cop sees you at a range with a Machine Gun, he arrests you. He is enforceing federal law.

Cop pulls over an Illegal alien, alien says I"I am illegal" cop can't do anything.

Illegals are special people who deserve special protection and support.

A local cop will not be arresting you at the range for possessing a machine gun unless it violates a state law. Local police do not have the authoirity to enforce Federal law.

That applies to ANY federal law.  Immigration,  gun laws, enviromental laws, etc.

Who says local police cannot enforce immigration laws?

The house-worker of one of my very close freinds was stopped at a road-block in chicago (on vacation, she wasnt the one driving), and got arrested because she was an illegal (We only found both out when she called). That was something like a month and a half ago, she was put in an immigation jail, and should be in Ukraine by now.

You can bet your ass the local guy will be calling the feds to make the arrest for the MG but more than likely they wont be calling INS for the illegal. Thats his point and its fucked up that cops have selective enforcement when presented with a clear violation. Not cool enough violation for them maybe?

Actually, the USC gives sworn state and local officers the authority to enforce many federal laws, including most of the criminal laws.

Most local LE agencies have policies in place against using immigration laws as the sole basis for detention, arrest or investigation. This is a matter of political pressure and is wrong in some respects. It is also changing rapidly in the wake of 9-11. The feds are also getting smarter about how they do it. For example, while local policies may forbid arresting somebody for immigration violations, the feds have started getting warrants for immigration violators and entering them into the computer. Local officers are usually bound by state law to serve warrants, so it gives them a convenient "out" and a way to enforce the law without running afoul of the political aspects.