Thread: Mayor announces change in Houston PD immigration policy

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Mayor announces change in HPD immigration policy

11:22 AM CDT on Friday, September 29, 2006

From 11 News Staff Reports


Changes are on the way for Houston police officers dealing with suspected illegal immigrants.

The new plan affects the city jail.

Suspected immigrants detained on minor violations will be fingerprinted.

The same rule would apply to anyone with an ID police believe is questionable.

The information will be sent to federal authorities.

Mayor Bill White said the change affects many.

“For routine traffic violations or for people brought in for routine traffic violations -- when an officer is suspicious we are looking at the standard procedures that we use to make sure that, whether it be a citizen or non-citizen, if there is anybody out there that’s wanted or should be wanted nothing slips through the cracks," said the mayor.

This policy review comes one week after Houston Police Officer Rodney Johnson was killed in the line of duty.

Juan Leonardo Quintero, an illegal immigrant who Johnson detained on a traffic stop, is charged with capital murder.

Mayor White said the city will make an official announcement on the policy review Sunday.

Great News, BRIAN!

It's not enough but it's a start. If Houstonians were to rise up and speak with one loud voice, more important legislation would be in the works.

Sweet. This needs to be the policy throughout the US. Why would we want unknown people, without ID, driving around and living in our towns?

Little late for Officer Johnson...but about time Mayor
SHEEZZZZZZZZ

Mayor, you need to end the sanctuary policies of the city of Houston.

Houston has a focus campaign so feel free to send the council and mayor a nice note.

Dixie

Thank you Dixie ...I will!

Originally Posted by Dixie

Mayor, you need to end the sanctuary policies of the city of Houston.

Houston has a focus campaign so feel free to send the council and mayor a nice note.

Dixie

Thanks for the reminder. I added the article to the focus page.

I'll bet the Houston PD will still release all illegal immigrants that are not felons. We'll see.........

Originally Posted by Dixie

Mayor, you need to end the sanctuary policies of the city of Houston.

Houston has a focus campaign so feel free to send the council and mayor a nice note.

Dixie

here's the link guys:

ALIPAC Activism and FOCUS Campaigns
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... forum&f=24

http://www.bloghouston.net/item/4198

Modifications to city's sanctuary policy
Following up on this hint that some changes in Houston's sanctuary city-status were imminent, here are a couple of stories from KTRH-740 with early details. First this teaser was in a Brent Fuller/Scott Braddock story from Thursday:

The department's current policy forbids officers from asking about someone's immigration status, unless they've committed at least a Class B misdemeanor. It also prevents officers from inquiring about citizenship if a person has committed no crime.

Both White and Police Chief Harold Hurtt supported that policy. However, White said Wednesday at a City Hall press conference that certain "operational refinements" could still be made. "I think it's fair game for discussion with a committee," said White.

Then yesterday some of those refinements came to light in this KTRH story:

[...]if an officer should decide to arrest an individual and bring them to the city jail, "We will be checking fingerprints of Class C offenders," said City Council Public Safety Committee Chairman Adrian Garcia. "If there's information that comes back in relation to questionable immigration status, we will put a 'hold' on you until Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can investigate."

Garcia, who helped draft the plan, said they're trying to seal "gaps" in the system that can occur between booking at the city jail transfer to the Harris County lock-up.

KHOU-11 has more:

HPD began holding high-level meetings and reviewing its inmate processing procedures after an illegal immigrant allegedly murdered an officer after a traffic stop.

While officers won’t question citizenship status on the street, they will once a person is taken to jail, no matter how minor the crime.

“It shows the pressure they’re under to change,” said Wanda Schultz, Protect Our Citizens. “We are grateful for that. We have been begging them for that much at least for years.”

Sources told 11 News everyone arrested will also now be fingerprinted—even those arrested for minor crimes.

HPD will also be working closely with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to make sure illegal immigrants are not caught and released by police.

[snip]

Police Chief Harold Hurtt and the mayor are scheduled to make an announcement regarding the change in HPD booking procedures on Sunday.

This policy review comes one week after Houston Police Officer Rodney Johnson was killed in the line of duty.

It's a step in the right direction. This blog has frequently wondered why a 1992 HPD policy memo is so sacrosanct that it could not even be discussed. It would appear Mayor White realizes that stance is no longer politically viable and he is now willing to consider some modifications.

One can guess his right hand does not support the changes.