Thread: Lawyer Wants San Jose to Turn in Illegals

Lawyer Wants San Jose to Turn in Illegals

NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, April 6, 2007


SAN FRANCISCO -- An activist attorney wants a judge to compel San Jose police to follow state law and turn suspects who might be in the U.S. illegally over to immigration authorities.

The claim, filed last week on behalf of San Jose residents Barbara Allen and Carol Joyal, demands that San Jose police contact federal authorities when suspects believed to be undocumented immigrants are arrested in connection with drug-related offenses.

"We're rearresting illegal aliens several times, and that takes a lot of police time, judicial time, jail space, and taxpayer money," said Allen, who, in the past, has organized rallies against amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The legal request comes amid raids nationwide by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, who are arresting and detaining thousands of illegal immigrants. Police in San Jose and elsewhere say if they had to turn in illegal immigrants, it could erode trust in ethnic communities.

The police chief has explained in the past the department has a policy of not arresting people solely based on their immigration status. Generally, police do not ask a person's status in the course of interviewing victims, witnesses and others.

Attorney David Klehm's filing in Santa Clara County Superior Court demands that police comply with a state law that requires them to report the names of any illegal immigrants arrested on suspicion of certain drug-related offenses, including possession and trafficking.

In order to comply with the law, the claim argues, the police would have to find out the immigration status of those arrested and then report any suspected illegal immigrants.

"We're not talking about getting the hound dogs out there and going after every illegal immigrant," Klehm said. "We're just talking about people who committed crimes."

The San Jose Police Department referred all questions to city attorney Richard Doyle who did not immediately return calls for comment.

Immigrant advocates and the attorneys who work with them say Klehm is unfairly targeting undocumented immigrants. Instead, advocates say, people upset about immigration should focus on changing the laws that compel people to enter the country illegally.

The advocates also argue that entire communities benefit when immigrants feel comfortable working with police, reporting crimes, serving as witnesses or answering the door when officers knock.

Mark Silverman, director of Immigration Policy for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, said the filing could have a "chilling effect" on immigrants' cooperation with police.

"It could actually endanger public safety," Silverman said.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/article ... shtml?s=lh

Immigrant advocates and the attorneys who work with them say Klehm is unfairly targeting undocumented immigrants. Instead, advocates say, people upset about immigration should focus on changing the laws that compel people to enter the country illegally.

How about we take this one step further and ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW!

That, I do believe, will save tons of time legislating
and certainly allow our 'legislators' to free up valuable time to work on other urgent matters.

Damn but I think I've hit on a very good idea.

BTW, how does one "unfairly target and undocumented ILLEGAL?"
I thought they were CRIMINALS.

We're rearresting illegal aliens several times, and that takes a lot of police time, judicial time, jail space, and taxpayer money," said Allen, who, in the past, has organized rallies against amnesty for illegal immigrants..... And these are just the people who have committed crimes.

This amounts to fraud and collusion by the California government and local police departments.

Mark Silverman

who is afraid the filing could have a "chilling effect" on immigrants' cooperation with police....it could actually endanger public safety.

is a TWISTED LUNATIC. That's what law breakers are supposed to fear...getting caught...not being protected by corrupt lawyers and local sanctuary governments using their handicapped police forces as buffers AGAINST public law.