TribBlog: Berman: Perry Did Not Lie to Me

Arch-conservative state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, has two points he’d like to clarify.

It’s true that Berman is hoping to pass legislation similar to Arizona’s tough new immigration enforcement laws in the next session, but there are elements of the media's coverage of that fact that he'd like to correct. 

He sent them out in a press release. They are as follows:

1. "I do not support racial profiling. Many are not aware the new Arizona law prohibits the use of race or nationality as the sole basis for an immigration status check. Officers are allowed to conduct a check only after someone has been stopped for suspected criminal activity. My bill would utilize the same guideline."

2. "I have been asked if Governor Rick Perry lied to me. He did not. However, I am disappointed with his comments about the Arizona law. In the past, Gov. Perry supported the 287(g) training which would permit state and local law enforcement officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions, provided they receive appropriate training. United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano suspended the program before Gov. Perry had a chance to act on it. It is my understanding the Arizona law would do the same thing now without the training."

The much-speculated-about “lie” Berman refers to stems from a pledge Perry made to Berman that he would step up efforts against illegal immigrants — a pledge that helped dissuade Berman from running against him for governor.