PHOENIX — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says she doesn’t believe tough state immigration laws will prevent federal and state officials from gathering information they need to discover terrorism or other threats.
The former Arizona governor made the remarks at a press briefing in Phoenix today. She was in town to give a speech to law enforcement officials attending an intelligence training event in Phoenix.
Among the concerns raised by opponents of state enforcement laws like Arizona’s SB1070 is that illegal immigrants will be afraid to contact law enforcement when they’re victims of crimes or when they have information that police need to know.
Napolitano says she believes outreach efforts by local officials and the availability of special federal visas for crime victims and witnesses will keep the information flowing.
