Phoenix Immigration Policy Under Scrutiny
December 3rd, 2007 @ 12:08pm
by Kevin Tripp/KTAR

A Washington-based group might sue Phoenix over a city order that spells out when cops can call immigration agents.

Chris Farrell from Judicial Watch said the Phoenix policy violates federal law, ``which specifically prohibits any official from blocking or from precluding or fronm in anyway restricting officers from communicating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement."

Judicial Watch has sent its chief investigator to Phoenix to review documents on the city policy.

ABC News legal analyst Royal Oakes said similar lawsuits have failed across the nation.

``The courts say yes, it's proper, to say to the community that law enforcement officials will not report them (illegals) if they're not talking about immigration issues specifically," Oakes said.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Police Chief Jack Harris and other city officials have been under pressure to take a stronger stand against illegal immigrants. Gordon and Harris have said immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government and that local police do not have the resources to make that one of their primary concerns.

Judicial Watch has a suit pending against Los Angeles over an order which in most cases prevents police from asking about a person's immigration status.
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