Public Safety Demands Gaining the Trust of Undocumented Immigrants

Many cities like San Francisco are debating the continuation of sanctuary status type positions. It’s clear to me that making sure that undocumented immigrants trust local law enforcement is in the best interest of public safety. Pamela Constable writes about this issue in the Washington Post:

Although law enforcement agencies in Prince William and Frederick counties have agreed to help federal authorities enforce immigration laws, officials in many other parts of the country remain reluctant to do so, saying they fear losing the trust of immigrant communities and worry about being accused of racial profiling.

Despite a nationwide clamor against illegal immigration, only 55 of more than 18,000 police and law enforcement agencies across the country have signed agreements to coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Although they face public and political pressure to crack down on illegal immigrants, officials say such efforts can backfire by making immigrants reluctant to report crimes, exposing departments to lawsuits, and putting local police officers in confusing and dangerous situations that can lead to mistakes and abuse. Click here for the whole story.

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