Memphis鈥� different take on a federal surge
The city鈥檚 Democratic mayor works with federal agents to direct those resources to fighting violent crime while barely tolerating enforcement of immigration law. His goal: 鈥渢o uplift our community.鈥�
U.S. National Guard members talks to local police as people watch in downtown Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 16.
Reuters
Americans have long struggled with notions of 鈥渓ocal justice.鈥� Should state or federal laws sometimes bend to a community鈥檚 sensibilities and priorities? In Minneapolis, recent instances of violence by immigration enforcement agents, and sometimes by protesters, point to a federal-local split over immigration policies, not to mention which branch of law enforcement should investigate the violent acts.
Local justice was once so embedded in America that Vermont took until the 1970s to curb a Colonial-era practice of having two nonlawyers, or 鈥渟ide judges,鈥� help decide many court cases alongside a professional judge. Vermonters in the 18th century demanded this 2-for-1 balance because they were wary of the British king鈥檚 traveling judges and their appreciation of local values and circumstances.
Yet, for every standoff like the current one in Minneapolis, there are today examples of cooperation in implementing law 鈥� whether federal, state, or local. The issues are not always simple. Should Minneapolis police, for example, always protect immigration agents from civilians who try to block enforcement? Should the FBI allow the state of Minnesota to join the investigation into shootings by federal law enforcement? A lack of mutual trust driven by policy differences can exacerbate such issues.
One city currently walking this tightrope better than Minneapolis is Memphis. It is one of several cities where the Trump administration has sent in either the National Guard, ICE, or other federal law enforcement. Starting in September, the Tennessee city received some 1,500 federal personnel as well as up to 1,000 National Guard members. The surge was backed by a recent state law, passed by a Republican-controlled legislature, mandating local support of federal enforcement of immigration laws.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, made the decision to work with the federal task force as much as possible to direct it toward the city鈥檚 biggest problem: a high violent crime rate. His administration has instituted certain safeguards. Federal officers are integrated into the local police unit fighting gangs and organized crime. Local police are required to report abuses by federal agents, such as racial profiling. And the National Guard must not intervene in a crime situation, only notify police.
Memphis police often patrol with federal agents and will turn over unauthorized migrants arrested for a state or local crime. But the mayor said the city, with an immigrant population of about 7%, has a 鈥渃rime problem鈥� instead of an 鈥渋mmigrant issue.鈥�
鈥淚f there are individuals that have issues with documentation and status that are a part of any efforts around violent crime, then certainly they would be turned over鈥� to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mr. Young told TV station WKNO.
In December, the mayor announced that 鈥渟erious crimes鈥� were at a 25-year low. That partly fulfilled his goal, stated in September, for the surge of federal law enforcement: 鈥渢o uplift our community and accelerate a safer, stronger future.鈥�
鈥淭his is our moment to show the world the truth about Memphis,鈥� the mayor stated.