Public safety versus civil rights in immigration enforcement policy

¶ … controversial issue debate Public Safety vs. Civil Rights. Prepare a word paper cultural diversity race relate public safety efforts law enforcement security services

The debate over the confrontation between public safety and civil rights is nowadays considered a subject that may take the headlines in most newspapers and news television channels. This is largely due to the fact that more and more cases of abuse or racial discontent are placed in the framework of this wide debate over the need to feel secure in public but at the same time to ensure the civil rights of citizens, regardless or race, ethnicity, or color of their skin.

One of the main elements of the debate focuses on the ability of law enforcement mechanisms such as the police to have the mandate to react depending on immigration status. More precisely, "the discussion of cross-deputization (mandating that police officers enforce immigration policies) is often framed as a referendum on civil rights and racial politics. Those who oppose cross-deputization often maintain that asking police to target individuals based on their immigration status endangers civil rights. Those who support cross-deputization, on the other hand, argue that enforcing immigration laws is necessary to maintain a culture of lawfulness and to preserve public safety" (Epstein and Goff, 2011). The question arises on the actual rights of the citizens and if these rights are more valuable than the need to protect public safety.

After the 9/11 events, immigration policies have sharpened to such an extend as to limit the possibilities of such attacks to take place again. In this sense, in the public opinion's eyes a discontent with immigrants and in particular those of Muslim origin increased dramatically. The perception became rather focused on the belief that Muslims are representatives of a terrorist concept and means of action. Therefore, the need to further improve the abilities to ensure public safety increased.

There have been numerous cases in which immigrants were targeted and mocked as a result of discriminatory actions. One clear example was the 2005 cartoon scandal in Europe that triggered a wide attention on the way in which the freedom of the press can be limited in a democratic country such as Denmark. Similarly, discussions in the United States focus on how can public safety be maintained and improved without affecting the rights of citizens in the conditions in which immigrants are seen as a resource of public safety disturbance.