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| SFIWJ Attends Big City Police Chief Press Conference in Coral Gables, FL |
Big city police chiefs from across the country held a press conference in
Coral Gables on July 1, 2009 to discuss the problems police are
encountering with our current immigration policies. SFIWJ was
represented at this event by both a staff member and two interns. The
members of the discussion panel included Chief John Timoney of the
Miami City Police; Chief Art Acevedo of Austin, Texas; former Chief Art
Venegas of Sacramento, California; and others.
Chief Acevedo, who is also the head of the National Latino Peace
Officers Association, spoke for the majority of the conference. Acevedo
encourages an environment in which immigrants are no longer afraid to
come to police after a crime has occurred. He said that it is not in the
best interest of public safety to keep the 10-15 million currently
undocumented immigrants residing in the United States living in fear,
because “a person who is victimizing an illegal immigrant today will
victimize a legal citizen tomorrow.” Further, he emphasized that
undocumented individuals who witness crimes might be hesitant to step
forward in the current climate. Acevedo closed with the conviction that it
is his priority as a member of the police force to deal with penal rather
than civil matters. He does not believe that local police forces should be
taxed with enforcing complicated immigration regulations. Their primary
responsibility is to maintain public safety. Chief Timoney, in agreement
with Acevedo, commented that he does not want to see the day when
someone is murdered because police were otherwise occupied in
enforcing civil laws on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
All of the police chiefs agreed, both from their own experience and from
studies, that illegal immigrants are not engaged in criminal activity any
more often than legal citizens and, in fact, Acevedo said that statistics
have shown that immigrants commit less crime than United States’
citizens. According to former Chief Venegas, immigrants and police are
on the same page when it comes to crime; immigrants want police to
enforce criminal laws and believe that those who violate those laws
should be penalized. Thus, according to the police chiefs present who
represent large cities across the country, immigrants can help to secure
the safety of our country.
Coral Gables on July 1, 2009 to discuss the problems police are
encountering with our current immigration policies. SFIWJ was
represented at this event by both a staff member and two interns. The
members of the discussion panel included Chief John Timoney of the
Miami City Police; Chief Art Acevedo of Austin, Texas; former Chief Art
Venegas of Sacramento, California; and others.
Chief Acevedo, who is also the head of the National Latino Peace
Officers Association, spoke for the majority of the conference. Acevedo
encourages an environment in which immigrants are no longer afraid to
come to police after a crime has occurred. He said that it is not in the
best interest of public safety to keep the 10-15 million currently
undocumented immigrants residing in the United States living in fear,
because “a person who is victimizing an illegal immigrant today will
victimize a legal citizen tomorrow.” Further, he emphasized that
undocumented individuals who witness crimes might be hesitant to step
forward in the current climate. Acevedo closed with the conviction that it
is his priority as a member of the police force to deal with penal rather
than civil matters. He does not believe that local police forces should be
taxed with enforcing complicated immigration regulations. Their primary
responsibility is to maintain public safety. Chief Timoney, in agreement
with Acevedo, commented that he does not want to see the day when
someone is murdered because police were otherwise occupied in
enforcing civil laws on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
All of the police chiefs agreed, both from their own experience and from
studies, that illegal immigrants are not engaged in criminal activity any
more often than legal citizens and, in fact, Acevedo said that statistics
have shown that immigrants commit less crime than United States’
citizens. According to former Chief Venegas, immigrants and police are
on the same page when it comes to crime; immigrants want police to
enforce criminal laws and believe that those who violate those laws
should be penalized. Thus, according to the police chiefs present who
represent large cities across the country, immigrants can help to secure
the safety of our country.
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