Feds want local task force
Anti-gang » WVC council favors getting rid of 'troublemakers.'
By Jennifer W. Sanchez



Updated: 11/18/2009 04:30:58 PM MST


West Valley City » A federal immigration official said he is working toward creating a task force of representatives from local law-enforcement agencies.

The goal is for agencies to share intelligence information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target "transnational threats," including criminals involved in gangs, drugs, fraud and organized crime.

Jon Lines, an ICE assistant special agent in charge based in Salt Lake County, proposed the idea to the West Valley City Council during its study meeting Tuesday.

Federal agents gave an hourlong presentation about their department, stressing there are only eight special agents who work in ICE's Salt Lake City office, which oversees immigration enforcement in Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties.

Lines said ICE has had a good relationship with the West Valley City Police Department's gang task force when conducting "cooperative gang surge operations." He wants the collaboration to continue if he gains approval from ICE to organize an immigration task force.

"We rely on [law enforcement] for a lot of our intelligence," Lines said after the meeting. "We need to be communicating with each other."

Lines encouraged the City Council to allow West Valley Police Chief Buzz Nielsen to "give us an officer or two" if the task force convenes. Lines said it's crucial to work together, especially now since the drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border appears to be heading north.

"What can you do? Work alongside us," Lines said. "If you don't want us here, we will pick up and go."

After the meeting, some WVC council members called the ICE task force a good idea. They want more information about the task force and how the city can become more involved.

"That kind of cooperation is essential," said Councilwoman Carolynn Burt. She added the task force would be a great way to eliminate "troublemakers" living illegally in West Valley City.

Councilman Corey Rushton said the partnership might help with prosecuting criminals and making neighborhoods safer by getting "rid of the bad elements."

Lines said he wants to have a representative or two from each local and state law-enforcement agency from the three counties he oversees. He wants to educate officers on the unique authorities of ICE agents, so the agencies can be more proactive in making arrests.

Lines said he hasn't yet proposed the task-force idea to any other law-enforcement agencies because he's waiting on the needed funding.

"I would like to see it become a reality," he said.

jsanchez@sltrib.com

http://www.sltrib.com/slc/ci_13816796