LAPD Refuses to Hand Feds All Illegal Immigrants

Under new plan, police won't detain anyone not suspected of a felony
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 11, 2012 5:50 PM CST
LAPD Refuses to Hand Feds All Illegal Immigrants
In this May 25, 2010 file photo, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent walks down the aisle of charter jet for deportation.   (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

The LAPD will soon stop honoring federal requests to detain illegal immigrants for deportation if they are only accused of low-level crimes, under a new plan approved by the Los Angeles Police Commission today. The plan should kick in early next month, the LA Times reports. Commissioner John Mack called the new policy an "enlightened first step," but immigrants rights groups are opposed to it, arguing that it doesn't go far enough to protect illegal immigrants.

Police departments usually send fingerprints on every person arrested to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which will then ask police to detain the suspect if they may be in the country illegally. Under the new plan, the LAPD will stop honoring those detainer requests unless the suspect is accused of a felony or ICE can articulate some special circumstance necessitating detention. (More illegal immigration stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X