Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) "This executive order sounds like it's a lot. But it really isn't," said Immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi of Berardi Immigration Law.
"It really applies in a very narrow way."
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan signed an executive order on Monday, barring
city employees and resources from being used in civil cases involving
federal immigration enforcement.
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Berardi said the order was crafted very carefully.
"In the city of Buffalo, if you have overstayed your visa, and you get pulled over for speeding, and the officer finds out that you have overstayed your visa, he or she will not refer you to the Immigration Service because the over-stay on your visa is a civil violation, not a criminal one."
"I think it' a political way of saying to city residents, look, we're here to protect you. But because immigration law is very convoluted, many people think it's something that it's not."
Berardi added that there has definitely been an increase in immigration enforcement locally by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"We're seeing the government being really aggressive and look at everything and everyone microscopically. In previous years, they didn't do that. It's really the manner in which they are doing it," she explained.
The actions by ICE are aimed at illegals, but Berardi said legal immigrants are being targeted as well.
"Yes. People who have a green card, which takes years and years, as well as a lot of money and accomplishments to obtain, are being hassled to show their immigration status. I don't think people have a problem removing individuals
who have serious offenses. But when it's people who have followed the law and done the right thing, that seems to be out of proportion."
Asked about the tension between federal and state and local government over immigration enforcement, Berardi expects the issue to go to the Supreme Court.
"It's not good when governments can't get on the same page. I think we're going to see this fast tracked to the Supreme Court and I think we'll see a major ruling."