Posted at: 08/14/2007 08:12:09 AM

By: Jeremy Jojola

APD will no longer report illegal aliens

Effective immediately, Albuquerque police officers who find illegal immigrants will no longer contact either federal immigration agents or the border patrol.

The new guidelines come six years after the Albuquerque City Council passed a resolution saying that no city resources will be used to go after illegal immigrants.

Despite that resolution, two years ago an Albuquerque police officer detained three students at Del Norte High School for being illegal immigrants.

The students sued the police department for violating city policy.

The new written policy, to be unveiled Tuesday, is drawing both criticism and praise.

“If you’re a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, if you’re a witness to a crime, you should come forward to police and report that without being concerned that it will lead to your deportation,â€