Cops Afraid of Being Called 'Snitch' for Reporting Illegals

In the wake of the Newark, NJ incident in which some local teenagers were shot execution-style by an alleged illegal immigrant, the question has come up as to the role of local enforcement in reporting such potentially criminal illegals. New Jersey is putting a new measure in place that requires local law enforcement to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if they arrest an illegal immigrant for a violent or otherwise serious crime. However there is hesitation on the part of many local law enforcement agencies for different reasons: too many other things to do, too much paper work, "it's not our job."

Another potential road block that creates this hands-off mentality when it comes to reporting illegal immigrants could be the way such reporting is treated in the news media. In many cases newspaper such as the L.A. Times and the New York Times use the "S" word. I am talking about "snitch" or "snitching", a pejorative which is used to describe the act of reporting activity to the feds or other law enforcement agency. This term is even used for local cops who report activity to higher authorities. The very term "snitch" carries a negative connotation that hearkens back to the days of being accused of being a tattle-tail in school. Even from a young age kids are taught, by way of teasing and peer pressure, to not stand up for what is right or to report wrongful behavior. If they do so they will be labeled a tattle-tail, a snitch. I am appalled that this juvenile behavior carries over into the mainstream media and is used by supposedly mature adults and professionals.

In the case of illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes, local police officers should feel it their rightful duty as law enforcement agents and good citizens to report illegals who commit violent crimes to ICE without the fear of being derided or outright mocked by the media. Call me a whistleblower, a stool pigeon, a snitch, or any other derogatory term and I will not bat an eye. I will continue to do what is right and stand up for whatever is just and I will be a good citizen no matter what names you call me. Sticks and stones may break my bones but calling me "snitch" will never hurt me. Police officers should not be afraid or ashamed to take the same approach. It is their job and their duty and they should not be called names for performing it.