Bad Idea: Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative

Arlington deputy police chief joins fight against immigration enforcement

11:44 AM CDT on Friday, October 23, 2009
By DIANNE SOLÍS / The Dallas Morning News
dsolis@dallasnews.com

Arlington Deputy Police Chief Kim Lemaux joined three other law enforcement leaders Thursday to oppose efforts that involve local police in the enforcement of noncriminal infractions of immigration law.

The message was delivered by a new organization, the Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative. Retired Sacramento Police Chief Art Venegas founded the group this year. Its creation comes as Congress faces overhauling complicated immigration laws next year and as North Texas routinely deals with illegal immigration conflicts.

“This issue of immigration needs to remain the responsibility of federal authorities,” Lemaux said in a telephone news conference. “We need all our resources to address our core issues and local issues.”

Lemaux said police forces like hers in Arlington, a city of about 375,000, are stretched thin.

She was joined by Venegas of Sacramento and an Iowa sheriff, who were even more pointed in their comments. Iowa’s Polk County Sheriff Bill McCarthy called the nation’s immigration policies both “schizophrenic” and “convoluted.”

A kosher meat-packing plant in Postville, Iowa, was the scene of an immigration raid last year, where nearly 400 people were detained. Some argued that Postville had grown too dependent on laborers in the United States illegally, but others argued that prosecuting the workers on criminal identity fraud charges was too harsh.

Children showed up before local authorities asking to be fed because their parents had been taken away, McCarthy said. “We disrupted families, and we terrorized children.”

McCarthy also called for an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws – a mission that failed in 2007.

The failed effort occurred “possibly because law enforcement could have added input and brought some sensible positions,” said Venegas, who retired from the Sacramento force in 2002. Among those now supporting Venegas’ effort are national Latino and black law enforcement organizations, and officers in Miami, Austin and New Orleans.

Venegas also noted that of the 18,200 state and local law enforcement agencies in the nation, only about 75 had signed up or were about to sign up for the 287(g) program, which allows local and state officers to be trained in targeted enforcement of federal immigration law. Locally, Carrollton and Farmers Branch participate.

Irving’s police department participates in another program known as the Criminal Alien Program. Irving’s police practices have been both lauded and criticized. In September, a study by the law school of the University of California-Berkley said there was strong evidence that Irving police racially profiled Latinos. Irving’s police chief denied the charges and said researchers used faulty methods.

Law enforcement leaders in the conference call said their police procedures avoid any racial profiling.

“If a group of residents fear the police, then they will not turn to officers for help, making them more viable victims,” Lemaux said.

Not only no, Hell.No.

With all due respect Ms. Lemaux you are wrong.  You do not have the option of choosing which laws to enforce.

Dr. Theron Bowman, Arlington’s Chief of Police will be receiving my letter asking for your resignation.

Update: email sent.