42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
▪ provide protection (police)
Police protection is not an exclusive state power—think of the FBI—but the Constitution reserves most police powers to the states so that local communities can decide what makes them secure. States like New York have repeatedly said that using local police as adjuncts for Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not improve the security of our communities because it drives a wedge between law enforcement and immigrants.
I think that the Department of Homeland Security flunks its own civics test when it bullies states into participating in this flawed program.
Photo by Ted Hesson from “Launch of Education Campaign on Secure Communities”
