Xavier Becerra: “What we are saying, however, is that we have to be very careful in having law enforcement try to do the work of the INS…”

“What we are saying, however, is that we have to be very careful in having law enforcement try to do the work of the INS and Border Patrol officers. If I can just cite for my colleagues' consideration at some point the reports by the Commission on Civil Rights, which has said that in the past there have been occasions when some very aggressive, zealous local law enforcement officials have actually detained people because of their foreign-looking appearance or because of their racial or ethnic appearance. We have had instances where local law enforcement officials, believing they have the authority, have taken some of these measures without that authority and in fact caused the violation of certain rights that individuals have in maintaining their own privacy and being free of government intrusion, especially if they have committed no wrong.”