Thread: AZ-ACLU opposes new immigration policy in Chandler

ACLU opposes new immigration policy in Chandler
33 commentsby Edythe Jensen - Feb. 25, 2010 01:58 PM

The American Civil Liberties Union is urging Chandler not to repeal its 1999 immigration policy because a proposed new one is more likely to result in racial profiling.

Allesandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the Arizona ACLU, said she plans to speak at tonight's City Council meeting and warn members that the policy change would "lead to harassment of certain racial and ethnic groups and jeopardize public safety in Chandler by forcing police to prioritize immigration enforcement over other public safety matters."

Police Chief Sherry Kiyler is proposing a policy that is similar to Mesa's and allows officers to question all misdemeanor and felony criminal suspects about their status, not just the most serious offenders. Mayor Boyd Dunn is backing the change.

The more restrictive 1999 immigration policy took effect after Chandler drew widespread criticism for a five-day roundup of suspected illegal immigrants in 1997. Because it was passed by a former city council, the policy took authority to make changes away from the police chief, who at the time was Bobby Joe Harris.

By formally repealing that policy, the council will hand the power to change immigration enforcement procedures back to the chief.

Meetze said the 11-year-old rules are more in keeping with current Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) priorities and any changes should go before public hearings and not be placed only in the chief's hands.

The 7 p.m. meeting is at 22 S. Delaware St. and will broadcast live on the municipal Web site: chandleraz.gov; click on Chandler Channel 11.


http://www.azcentral.com/community/chan ... -0225.html

Chandler scraps old immigration policy over ACLU objections
36 commentsby Edythe Jensen - Feb. 26, 2010 12:00 AM

The Chandler City Council revoked its 1999 immigration policy over objections from the American Civil Liberties Union and several residents.

The unanimous vote Thursday night came after Allesandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the Arizona ACLU, urged members to keep the old policy because a proposed new one is more likely to result in racial profiling. The residents said it would foster an atmosphere of fear and mistrust in the Hispanic community that could hamper crime-solving.

"It would breach a level of trust that has taken years to build," said Carmen Cornejo, who said she has worked as a volunteer interpreter for the city.

Police Chief Sherry Kiyler is planning to implement new rules similar to Mesa's that allow officers to question all misdemeanor and felony criminal suspects about their status, not just the most serious offenders. Under both the old and new policies, officers do not ask the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses, civil traffic violators, or juveniles who are not charged with violent crimes. "There is no intent to do immigration enforcement," Kiyler said.

Mayor Boyd Dunn recommended the change, saying state lawmakers who are discussing far-reaching changes in laws tied to immigration have been citing Chandler's policy as a bad example.

The more restrictive 1999 immigration policy took effect after Chandler drew widespread criticism for a five-day roundup of suspected illegal immigrants in 1997. Because it was passed by a former city council, the policy took authority to make changes away from the police chief.

Thursday's council vote handed the power to change immigration enforcement procedures back to the chief, who can change them without public approval from now on.

That is a disappointment for Soler Meetze. "When local police get into the business of trying to determine when there's reasonable suspicion to question someone about their immigration status, that's when the potential for racial profiling increases dramatically," she said.


http://www.azcentral.com/community/chan ... -0225.html

Chandler approves changes to immigration policy
Reported by: Brian Webb
Email: bwebb@abc15.com
Last Update: 11:02 am


Chandler CHANDLER, AZ -- The City of Chandler is changing its immigration policy.

The city council approved the changes this week despite pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU reportedly believes the new rules are more likely to result in racial profiling.

Now officers will be allowed to question all misdemeanor and felony suspects about their immigration status. The old rule just targeted the serious offenders.

Mayor Boyd Dunn recommended the changes citing Arizona law makers who used to call attention to Chandler's policy as a bad example.

http://www.abc15.com/content/news/south ... IXNPA.cspx