April 05, 2007

Los Angeles: Delgadillo, Cooley to work with ICE; Bratton resists (Special Order 40)

From this:

Suspected gang members who are in the country illegally and are arrested for even minor crimes could face quicker deportation under new policies unveiled Wednesday by the top two prosecutors in Los Angeles.

City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said they are partnering more closely with federal immigration officials and attorneys to identify the gang members for deportation, adding that illegal immigrants appear to make up a significant portion of the gang population.

The partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement marks a departure for local law enforcement, which generally keeps federal immigration officials at arm's length and largely prohibits Los Angeles police officers from asking the immigration status of either crime victims or suspects.

Not all are happy, including a group that allegedly has collaborated with the Mexican government:

"It erodes the public trust in law enforcement," said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles. "The lines are blurring."

And L.A.'s "leaders":

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton reiterated Wednesday that he opposes any change in the department's immigration policy, known as Special Order 40, which prohibits officers from asking anyone about their immigration status.

That is also the position of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

But two members of the LAPD command staff, who spoke on the condition that they not be identified, said they would like to be able to run immigration checks on suspected gang criminals once they are arrested.

"We cannot go there because of City Hall," one commander said.

Delgadillo says he also supports Special Order 40, meaning that he appears to be playing both sides of the street.

Posted to Los_Angeles at April 5, 2007 11:08 AM