Thread: Irving tries to dispel myths about illegal immigrant crackdo

Irving tries to dispel myths about illegal immigrant crackdown

Police challenge misconceptions, media reports

10:46 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 17, 2007
By BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News
bformby@dallasnews.com

Irving city officials and community leaders worked Wednesday to address fears and dispel myths surrounding the Police Department's use of the Criminal Alien Program.

Some city and community leaders said unconfirmed accusations of racial profiling have given people misconceptions about how the program works. Others said local and national media spread unsubstantiated rumors, painting the Police Department in a bad light and fueling false assumptions about how illegal immigrants are detained.

"We believe that is a big key in this," said Angel Cruz, an Irving lawyer and spokesman for a group of activists and community leaders called Irving Forward. That group and a contingent of religious leaders met with city officials behind closed doors Wednesday morning about CAP.

At a City Council workshop Wednesday afternoon, Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd updated the council on the program. He detailed his department's arrest policies and presented findings from investigations into allegations of unfair arrests.

Chief Boyd said that while police give people citations for most traffic violations, they are allowed to make arrests for all but two violations – speeding and driving with an open container.

"We generally cite and release for a traffic offense," Chief Boyd said. "The exception to that is when the officer can't identify who they're dealing with."

Chief Boyd said when people have no identification or insurance card and their name doesn't match with the registered owner of the car they are driving, police will probably take them into custody. They will be cited for their suspected traffic violation and for not having identification. If citizenship can't be proved, the arrested person is then interviewed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as part of CAP.

Irving officials began using the program in September 2006 and have since turned more than 1,600 arrestees over to federal authorities for deportation. That's about 11 percent of all people arrested in the 13 months ending Sept. 30.

The program provides around-the-clock communication with federal authorities who interview arrestees and place immigration holds on those who are suspected of being illegal immigrants.

The city has found itself in the national spotlight in recent weeks for its use of the program. But at least nine North Texas law enforcement agencies have a Criminal Alien Program or similar effort.

"We've taken hits at the national level very unfairly," Irving council member Sam Smith said during Wednesday's workshop.

Chief Boyd also explained six allegations of unfair arrests later found to be justified. The allegations have been spread by activists and the media.

In one instance, a Nimitz High School student told The Dallas Morning News that his best friend was arrested for fighting and later deported. But Chief Boyd said when police contacted the student, he told them he assumed his friend had been deported because he hadn't seen him recently. Chief Boyd said Irving police had no record of any dealings with the friend – no arrest, no jail time.

The chief cited a national news network report alleging that an Irving man opened his garage door one day and was swarmed by police, arrested and later deported. Chief Boyd said Irving police responded to the man's home after a 911 hang-up call. Police found no emergency, made no arrests and left the property.

Chief Boyd also criticized a headline in The News that ran with a story about a majority of charges filed against arrestees flagged by ICE being misdemeanors. The headline read: "Arrests yield minor charges." Chief Boyd said misdemeanors aren't always minor. The charges the arrestees faced included driving while intoxicated, drug charges and prostitution, he said.

Several City Council members said their e-mail inboxes have been overflowing with support for the program. On Wednesday, they voiced their support of the police department and CAP.

Community and religious leaders said they hope to work with police and city officials to educate the public and dispel rumors.

"We know the fear is real," Mr. Cruz said.

http://www.dallasnews.com

The OBLs and their supporters are just going to keep pounding the drum of "profiling, discrimination," etc., to try to wear Irving down. I hope they stand strong and don't cave into this intimidation. I can't believe that we have to defend our right to enforce our laws this way. This is just wrong.