Letters: Refuting racial profiling in Irving
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... cbc7d.html
06:33 AM CDT on Thursday, September 27, 2007

Race doesn't affect arrests in Irving

Re: "Not a Minor Offense – Profiling is no way to find illegal immigrants," Tuesday Editorials.

I couldn't agree more; racial profiling is not only illegal, it is immoral. And it is not taking place in Irving, contrary to the implications in Tuesday's Dallas Morning News.

More than nine months ago, the city of Irving implemented an innovative program, in partnership with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to address both crime and illegal immigration in our community.

I think it's important for the public to know that race does not affect whether an individual is detained or arrested. Instead, it is the action of that individual who breaks the law – whether in committing a crime against another person or committing a traffic violation – that results in an arrest, and that opens the door for ICE officials to review residency status.

Our Irving police officers are committed to keeping our community safe by enforcing current Texas laws. Any actions stemming from an individual's residency status, such as deportation, are solely the responsibility of the federal government and ICE officials, who are charged with enforcing our nation's immigration laws.

Larry Boyd, chief, Irving Police Department, Irving