Thread: Police group pass out primer on enforcement

Guide on immigration handed out
Police group pass out primer on enforcement
Kevin Johnson
USA Today
Jul. 26, 2007 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON - The nation's largest association of police chiefs is distributing an unusual primer on immigration enforcement to thousands of law enforcement agencies, saying the absence of a national immigration policy has left local communities with an "overwhelming" burden.

The publication by the International Association of Chiefs of Police offers instruction on when state and local officers may intervene in cases involving illegal immigrants.

It stops short of urging local authorities to enforce federal immigration laws but says agencies can no longer ignore the local troubles posed by the explosive growth of undocumented immigrants.

"Because there has been very little federal assistance on this issue, it's been pushed down to us," IACP president Joseph Carter said. "Our frustration is that this has now become an issue for our membership."

Immigration enforcement, primarily the domain of the federal government, has been a particularly sensitive issue for local communities.

"Local police leaders face a growing set of immigration-related duties in the face of scarce and narrowing resources," the 45-page document states.

"It is critically important for local agencies to avoid being caught in the middle of endless battles over immigration policy."

The report states that local police are confronted with:

• Human smuggling operations.


• Crime victims who are reluctant to cooperate with police out of fear they will be deported.


• The rejuvenation of hate groups targeting new immigrant communities.


• Community disputes involving the location of day-laborer hiring sites or complaints related to overcrowded housing.

Carter said the document, circulated Tuesday, was the association's response to "numerous" requests for guidance from its membership, which numbers about 20,000 police officials.

"What we have provided is a framework to help guide chiefs. How they deal with it is an issue for their political leadership. "We can't dictate how a community should respond."

So far, the collective response of local communities has produced a quilt of local immigration policies.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... n0726.html

I want to get a copy does any one know where to mail out for one

Boy dont click on those polls at http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... n0726.html
the are full of spam and might rub off....