Tucson Police to Stop Some Immigration Checks

TUCSON, Ariz. — Dec 17, 2014, 7:19 PM ET

The Tucson Police Department says it will no longer fully enforce an Arizona state law that requires police to question the immigration status of some people believed to be in the country illegally.

Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor said Wednesday that officers will only check the immigration status of suspects who have prior serious felony convictions, pose a threat to national security or have gang affiliations.

The law, SB 1070, requires police, while enforcing other laws, to question immigration status.

Villaseñor says it is no longer practical for police to fully enforce SB 1070 because immigration authorities do not respond to calls by police in a vast majority of cases.

Former state Sen. Russell Pearce, the law's architect, called the new policy insulting and said it violates state law.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/t...hecks-27678506