A couple of police officers in Chattanooga are under arrest because they were shaking down illegal immigrants, stopping them for alleged traffic violations, and then taking their cash. The problem was that the cops were keeping the cash for themselves.

However, had they relieved these people of their money and then sent the money to the U.S. Department of Justice (sic), that would have been perfectly legal. In other words, shaking down someone and stealing his money is OK as long as it is done under the auspices of the U.S. Government.