Immigration's elusive fix

Two important facts were not included in the May 27 news story "U.S. police chiefs say Arizona immigration law will increase crime."

First, evidence suggests that crime will not increase when immigration laws are enforced. Take the case of Prince William County, which implemented immigration enforcement practices three years ago. Not only has crime not increased, but local crime rates are now at a 15-year low. Second, according to the Arizona immigration law, law enforcement officers are not required to determine the immigration status of the person "if the determination may hinder or obstruct an investigation." The fear that implementation of the law will intimidate crime victims or witnesses is baseless because the law expressly provides an exemption to ensure crimes can be investigated.

Undoubtedly, the local police need to communicate clearly with their communities about what the law requires and what it does not. But immigration enforcement does not need to drive a wedge between local police departments and the citizen and legal immigrant communities they serve.

Lamar Smith, Washington

The writer, who represents Texas's 21st congressional district, is the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.

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Given the statement by Kirk Adams in his May 28 Washington Forum commentary, "The truth behind the Arizona law," that "Arizona has plenty to do fighting the effects of illegal immigration," you might think that illegal migration was on the rise and that all immigrants were quite dangerous. Neither is true.