Phoenix Police Expand Immigration Enforcement Policies
By: Gerri L. Elder
Phoenix, Arizona immigration enforcement policies are changing. The police in Phoenix may now contact immigration authorities when they suspect a person is an illegal immigrant, according to a report by the Arizona Republic. The change in policy is expected to result in a larger number of illegal immigrants being deported from Arizona. Previously the policy with the Phoenix police prevented officers from asking about a person's immigration status in most cases.
The new policy in Phoenix will require officers to ask about the immigration status of any person who is arrested. Even is a person is not arrested or suspected of any crime, but an officer believes that they may be an illegal immigrant, the officer may contact Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and report the person by phone or with a one-page form.
Anti-illegal immigration activists who had been critical of the previous policy praise the changes in immigration enforcement. The police union had opposed the draft of the changes unveiled in February, but is reportedly now happy with the new policy and says that it removes unnecessary hurdles between the Phoenix police and ICE. Also in support of the policy changes is Julie Erfle, the widow of a Phoenix police officer who was killed by an illegal immigrant.
The Hispanic community is concerned about the new policy. There is concern that witnesses and victims of crimes will now be afraid of the police. One Phoenix immigration lawyer told the Arizona Republic that the new policy creates a "vicious, inhumane attitude to brothers and sisters of the same human race."
Immigration advocacy groups say that the new policy is good because it goes after criminals, but will have a negative impact on the community because every person will now be subject to interrogation by the police at any time.
The Phoenix police say that whether or not ICE is contacted will depend on whether or not the officer believes that the person is involved in criminal activity other than simply being in the country illegally. Officers will be allowed to use their own discretion in contacting immigration officials, but will need permission from a supervisor prior to making the report to ICE in order to prevent racial bias.
The new policy in Phoenix comes at a time when there is a trend of more cooperation between law enforcement and immigration officials across the country. Due to the failure of Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform law, states and individual localities have seemingly taken on the issue of dealing with illegal immigration on their own. In some areas, there is a greater degree of cooperation with ICE than ever seen before, with ICE even training officers to question, detain and arrest illegal immigrants. Many immigration officers find it troubling that local police departments are burdened with the enforcement of federal immigration law.
Many U.S. cities, previously including Phoenix, have adopted policies against the routine enforcement of federal immigration laws. However, the political climate is changing across the country and in many places changes in these policies are being considered, as was the case in Phoenix. Phoenix is the first U.S. city to roll back its policy regarding enforcement of immigration laws; however it is not likely to be the only city making these changes.