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Press Release

LULAC Opposes State and Local Law Enforcement Taking on the Role of Enforcing Federal Immigration Law.

Cases of racial profiling and police discrimination on the rise.

August 24, 2007

Contact:
Lizette J. Olmos, 202-833-6130 ext. 16
 

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens National President Rosa Rosales denounces ICE’s new ACCESS ID program which will provide local law enforcement agencies along with ICE the ability to enforce federal immigration law in their communities.

“LULAC has always come out firmly against involving city police in immigration matters. This is the role of the federal government. The local police departments do not have the resources or training to enforce immigration law,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales.

In other cities, mayors have moved in the same direction, formally declaring that local officials, including the police, will not ask about immigration status. The Mayor of Newark Cory A. Booker has taken such a stand against implementation of 287 (g).

LULAC has always taken a stand against local law enforcement taking on the role of immigration officials. This is the role of the Border Patrol,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales.

Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows state and local law enforcement agents to investigate, detain and arrest on civil and criminal grounds. When their training is complete the deputies will have earned the security clearance to use federal computer systems and databases which raises other privacy concerns.

ICE developed the ACCESS program in response to local law enforcement agencies requests. More than 60 municipal, county, and state agencies nationwide have requested 287(g) and more than 400 local and state officers have been trained under the program.

We encourage mayors from around the country to also take a firm stand and oppose ICE’s new ACCESS ID program.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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