Police advocacy group cites concerns with immigration program duties

12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, May 26, 2009

By MARJORIE KORN
mkorn@dallasnews.com

WASHINGTON – A federal program that gives local law enforcement the authority to perform immigration checks creates a tense relationship between law enforcement officials and the people they serve while not yielding sufficient benefits, a report from a national police advocacy group concludes.

The program has divided police chiefs, including several from North Texas on either side of the issue.

The study from the Police Foundation is, in part, a reaction to the federal government's increasing pressure on local law enforcement agencies to assume more immigration policy responsibilities. The program allowing local law enforcement to work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, has some police chiefs worried that immigration concerns could detract from their primary duties.

"In particular, many police executives were concerned with the impact on the relationship between immigrant communities and police and the probability of reduced cooperation of witnesses and victims of crime, thereby having a negative overall impact on public safety," the report notes.

Arlington Police Chief Theron Bowman said he doesn't participate in the program because he fears losing the support of his city's diverse residents.

"We have to have the voluntary compliance of our citizens in order to avoid having to use police force," Bowman said during a news conference in Washington last week to unveil the report. "By creating partners, we avoid creating foes."

Farmers Branch Police Chief Sid Fuller, whose department is one of three in Texas participating in the immigration enforcement program, along with neighboring Carrollton and the Harris County Sheriff's Office, said it hasn't been a burden on his force because only one of his officers was trained by ICE.

Fuller said he reached out to the Hispanic community when the program was implemented last year to explain the policy and gain people's support. He said Farmers Branch residents agree with the program because it targets only people who have committed a crime.

"Everyone is for that," Fuller said. "No one is opposed to that concept."

Bowman participated in the creation of the study, which used a series of focus groups and a survey to arrive at its conclusion. The study says more empirical research on the program is needed to compare its effectiveness against other types of law enforcement collaboration.

Moreover, the study reflects concern among some police chiefs that the program could encourage racial profiling and overburden police forces that are already struggling with shrinking budgets.

For local agencies that want to participate in the program, the study recommends they limit themselves to a jail portion, which allows trained officers working in local jails to check the immigration status of people they're booking.

Though the Police Foundation report is wary about the program, some police chiefs see this as an opportunity to provide more protection to communities.

Harold Hurtt, chief of police in Houston, has applied to the jail program. He said members of his community expect local officers to help enforce immigration laws.

"They don't care about jurisdiction," Hurtt said during the news conference. "They care about safety and the security of their country."

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