Posted on 04/11/2007 6:29:51 PM PDT by SmithL
Los Angeles (AP) -- Opponents of illegal immigration on Wednesday sued the Los Angeles Police Department, taking aim at its long-standing "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding suspects' immigration status.
The Superior Court lawsuit seeks to force officers to inform federal immigration officials when illegal immigrants are arrested on drug charges.
Department policy prohibits officers from inquiring about the immigration status of suspects, a policy strongly supported by Police Chief Chief William Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
The suit was brought on behalf of unidentified police officers who are afraid to speak out but argue the policy creates a situation where the same illegal immigrants are repeatedly arrested when they could have been deported, said lawyer David Klehm.
"This is being done at the request of the police officers," said Klehm. "Everyone I spoke to told me their hands were tied with this policy."
The suit is based on a section of the state's Health and Safety Code, which states that in drug cases involving a non-citizen "the arresting agency shall notify the appropriate agency of the United States having charge of deportation."
Klehm, an anti-illegal immigration activist based in Orange County, filed a similar against the San Jose Police Department a few weeks ago.
Since being adopted in 1979, Los Angeles' Special Order 40 has become a mainstay of police departments across the country. Proponents argue that if police start enforcing immigration law, immigrants — both legal and otherwise — will not report crimes or help police in investigations.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Good.
When all else fails, money talks.
Sounds harsh but if the "trust" wasn't there and illegal bangers preyed on illegal aliens maybe they'd pack up and go home.
“if police start enforcing immigration law, immigrants — both legal and otherwise — will not report crimes or help police in investigations.”
What??? They should be deported as well.
LA has probably a million illegals.
You can’t run a city when a million of its inhabitants are afraid to talk to the police. That will only develop an underworld ghetto run by criminals.
Hence, the illegals have to know that they can contact the police and even testify in court without being prosecuted
because of their illegal status.
Maybe they know O’Reilly is going after LA next.
“That will only develop an underworld ghetto run by criminals.”
As opposed to the current underworld ghetto run by criminals in the illegal communities.
MAN OH MAN THIS SAYS IT ALL: Without trust, the community is not willing to partner with us in reporting or solving crimes-LAPD if they can’t do the job, get the hell out of the way and send in the Marines....this is going to go hot and break into a war soon....friggin police better decide who they work for...this is so stupid stupid stupid!
LA has probably a million illegals.
You can’t run a city when a million of its inhabitants are afraid to talk to the police. That will only develop an underworld ghetto run by criminals.
Hence, the illegals have to know that they can contact the police and even testify in court without being prosecuted
because of their illegal status.”
I will raise your million by 3.....
Why would the police dept. "partner" with criminals to report or solve crimes? This sounds idiotic.
The illegal invaders have already done this.
“unidentified police officers who are afraid to speak out “
Police officers ‘afraid to speak out’, they can’t be honest, because the ‘system’ isn’t working,
time to change their ‘rules of engagemnet’.
“Why would the police dept. “partner” with criminals to report or solve crimes? This sounds idiotic.”
Bingo. Deport the illegals and you don’t need their trust.
They have another alternative. Don't come here illegally and if they are already here illegally, GO HOME!
“Proponents argue that if police start enforcing immigration law, immigrants — both legal and otherwise — will not report crimes or help police in investigations.”
“immigrants... legal.....”
Nooooooo Legal immigrants are not fugitives from the law...
I’m a legal immigrant.. I’m NOT afraid to report crimes if necessary...
In other words... ((( YOU DONT TALK FOR ME)))
(((STOP DISENFRANCHISING ME IN MY OWN COUNTRY)))
“You can’t run a city when a million of its inhabitants are afraid to talk to the police. That will only develop an underworld ghetto run by criminals.”
They are already culturally averse to speaking to the police as it is. As for an underworld ghetto run by criminals... it already exists in the form of gangs, car theft rings, etc...
Considering that the law referenced talks about deporting suspects who have been arrested in drug cases, this whole "otherwise illegals won't talk to the police" argument is BS.
Ultimately, the only way is to scare them into taking off.
“Hence, the illegals have to know that they can contact the police and even testify in court without being prosecuted
because of their illegal status.”
Oh come now, that is a complete twist of what is going on. The police can’t even report the illegal status OF ILLEGALS CAUGHT WITH DRUGS! Are you saying we should worry about illegal aliens, who are peddling illegal drugs, suddenly clamming up? Like they were saying anything in the first place, and weren’t intimidating witnesses? That is beyond ludicrous.
Some statements are just idiotic on their face.
When most law abiding people realize that they can't trust the government and their agents to uphold the law, soon they will give up in frustration and take the law into their own hands. That will be much worse.
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