From an undocumented immigrant to a police chief

Caught in the Crosshairs

Greetings,

Since taking office nine weeks ago, President Trump has enacted a multitude of actions affecting immigration enforcement in America. As federal judges scramble to determine the legality of these actions, law enforcement around the county continue to be caught in the crosshairs.

The Trump administration has stressed the importance of utilizing local law enforcement agencies to assist with immigration enforcement. Chiefs and sheriffs have expressed that their departments simply do not have enough resources to assist the federal government in the ways they are being asked to. For example, Sheriff Kathee Fatheree of Summit County, Ohio said in a recent interview that she is already "32 deputies down," and "can’t afford" to have her staff deputized for immigration enforcement.

In a local immigration forum, Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista noted the increased anxiety among immigrants in his community. Furthermore, he emphasized that public safety is his top priority, and he wants community members who are victims or witnesses of crime to feel safe coming forward. Chief Batista, a co-chair of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF), described the principles that all members of the task force agree to:

When immigrants feel safe in their communities, we are safer

State and local law enforcement should target criminals, not contributing members of the community

Federal law enforcement should refocus its priorities toward catching serious criminals and security threats

A larger legal workforce encourages respect for the rule of law

Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility

State and local law enforcement need adequate resources

The LEITF is a group of nearly 150 chiefs and sheriffs committed to serving and protecting all members of their communities. For over a decade, LEITF has been dedicated to advocating for commonsense immigration reform. Some of its members have personal immigration stories that contribute greatly to the national narrative, like our newest member Robert Rodriguez, who recently shared aspects of his journey from an undocumented child from Tijuana to becoming Chief of Police in Santa Ana, California. Chief Rodriguez says that his experience "instilled a deep commitment to service, bridging the gap between law enforcement and immigration communities." Furthermore, he discusses how his lived experienced as a former undocumented immigrant has provided him with a unique perspective on the hesitation immigrant communities feel toward law enforcement. Like Chief Rodriguez, members of the LEITF just want to protect their community. Diverting resources to assist federal immigration enforcement could harm public safety rather than enhance it.

Now, more than ever, it is important to advocate for our immigrant neighbors. Please join us in contacting your elected representatives to ask them to support bipartisan immigration reforms that enhance both our security and our communities.

Stay committed and hopeful,

Andrea

Andrea Corro
Field and Constituencies Coordinator
National Immigration Forum

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