The Problem with State and Local Involvement in Federal Immigration Enforcement: Immigrants unwilling to assist Houston police?

Historically, state and local police departments have been wholly uninvolved in enforcement of the federal immigration laws.  This is not because they want to be “sanctuary” cities of any kind; rather, they want to ensure that local police have the trust of immigrant communities.  The city of Houston, Texas appears to be learning that lesson the hard way.  According to the Houston Chronicle,

“immigrant advocates say the relationship between the Houston Police Department and the city’s immigrant communities has suffered recently amid confusion and misinformation about an immigration screening program in the city’s jails. HPD officials said last week that they have tried to clarify through public outreach campaigns that officers and detectives do not act as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and are considering turning to foreign-language media for help with their message.”

KJ