Phoenix police, immigration agents teaming up
PHOENIX - Ten agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement have joined Phoenix police to get illegal immigrants who commit crimes off the streets.
With agents and officers working side-by-side, officials say the instantaneous exchange of information will mean that criminals and victims in the country illegally can be more quickly identified.
And the faster they are identified, the better chance police have at solving cases, making arrests and putting a dent in illegal immigration.
It's allowing us to do what we do, and that's going after criminal aliens," said Alonzo Pena, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent in charge.
Phoenix police isn't new to dealing with illegal immigrants. Last year, the department arrested 2,800 criminal illegal immigrants and turned them over for prosecution and deportation.
They also turned over to federal authorities 1,200 illegal immigrants for being in the country illegally.
Phoenix police officials say they're often expected to perform the job of immigration agents, but that's just not possible.
"There is a segment of our community that would like Phoenix police officers to become designated immigration agents and spend their time going after and enforcing immigration laws, whether the people are involved in property crimes or violent crimes or not," Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris said.
"With the very limited resources that we have, we feel this is the best way ... to make our community safe," he said.
But Evelyn Cruz, associate clinical professor of law at Arizona State University, said the partnership between Phoenix and the immigration agency may fracture community trust.
"They think they're solving it this way, but the bigger problem is that you lose the trust of the community," she said. "Not just the undocumented residents, but even the green-card holders. They may want to stay away from the police ... you're silencing anyone afraid of immigration agents."
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