Thread: AZ: Agencies differ on migrant law

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Agencies differ on migrant law
County seeks wider role in helping feds tackle immigration

Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor and Michael Kiefer
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 28, 2007 12:00 AM

Increased cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies is turning up the heat on illegal immigration and drawing sharp reactions.

Ten Immigration and Customs Enforcement detectives are already embedded in the Phoenix Police Department. About 160 Maricopa County sheriff's deputies and detention officers, seven Phoenix police officers and an undetermined number of Department of Public Safety officers will be trained by ICE on immigration law and how to identify undocumented immigrants.

But those agencies differ on how the federal training will be put into use.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio wants his trained deputies to inquire about immigration status whenever they have probable cause.

Phoenix police say they will use the special training only to track down violent criminals.

The ramped-up efforts have sent a wave of alarm through the immigrant community.

"The line is really blurred," said Danny Ortega, a Phoenix attorney. "The city of Phoenix can talk all they want. But if the seven officers to be trained are not going to enforce immigration laws, then why are they going to be trained?"

Some anti-illegal immigration activists applauded the move.

"It's about time," said Randy Pullen, Arizona Republican Party chairman. "I'm happy to see they're doing it."

Others were skeptical.

"I'm not sure it's the sea change that some people think it is," said Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas. "It's a shame that only state and local law enforcement can do (what is) the responsibility of the federal government."

Sheriff's implementation
On Tuesday, the first 39 county sheriff's deputies began their immigration class work, referred to as 287g training, after a provision of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act.

"The sheriff's personnel will receive in-depth instruction about immigration, nationality, law, civil rights and intercultural relations," ICE Special Agent in Charge Alonzo Peña said. "This agreement will ensure that the sheriff's deputies have the tools they need to enforce immigration law while, at the same time, respecting the individual's civil liberties."

Detention officers will receive four weeks of training that, among other things, will allow them to put immigration "holds" on jail prisoners. Deputies will receive five weeks of training in immigration law, identifying nationality and avoiding racial profiling.

"We're not going to be federal agents all the time," Arpaio said.

Deputies will not conduct immigration roundups, but they are free to question suspected undocumented immigrants while investigating other crimes.

Although Arpaio does not think that the new training will prevent immigrants from calling 911 to report a crime, he acknowledges that witnesses to crimes may also be questioned about their immigration status.

Phoenix training
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon emphasized that "any police officers and detectives trained by ICE agents will go after criminal immigrants, but will not do immigrant raids or roundups."

Peña said that on Tuesday he received a formal request from Phoenix to provide 287g training for approximately seven officers who will participate in a multiagency task force focused on violent crime.

"It fits into an overall strategy that ICE has," Peña said. "We want to work with state and local agencies."

Details have yet to be worked out for Phoenix police training, but Gordon stressed that the final agreement would be similar to existing joint task forces with other federal agencies such as the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI.

Phoenix police are quick to distance themselves from the extent of immigration policing that Arpaio proposes.

"Our investigators will not be checking the immigration status of people who are not suspects in violent crimes," said Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill.

"We need people to trust us and come forward," he said.

Ortega doesn't believe this is the right path for the city.

"The community is already confused enough about the extent that Phoenix police will get involved in enforcement of federal immigration laws," he said. "All they're doing is pandering to the anti-immigrant voices of the city."

If state and local enforcement officers would do immigration raids there would be more crossing the border. The State and local guys know who is hiring illegals and have a better chance of getting evidence. the only way that we are going to be able to clean up america is by all law enforcement officers working to capture and deport illegals.