CA: Immigration Incident Ignites Debate [National City J.C. Penney]

NBC San Diego ^ | December 3, 2003

[heleny]

Immigration Incident Ignites Debate

Police Call Border Patrol After Shoplifting Incident

POSTED: 5:55 p.m. PST December 3, 2003


SAN DIEGO -- The City Council in National City asked police on Wednesday to investigate a recent immigration incident at a J.C. Penney store.

The incident has ignited a debate: Should local law enforcement get involved in immigration issues?

"They were just returning a pair of pants," said Anthony Flores (pictured, right), who told NBC 7/39 that he and his family were at the store when a National City police officer approached them about a shoplifting incident.

Flores said his aunt and cousin did not have any identification. The officer called the Border Patrol and the two were deported to Mexico.

Since the incident, Latino groups have accused the store of racial profiling, and they have also accused the police of collaborating with federal agents.

National City Mayor Nick Inzunza agrees that there is a problem -- but that he stands behind the officer.

"Well, I do think we need clarity in our police policy," said Inzunza.

The mayor said that the city has directed the police department to review its policy and -- in the meantime -- to stop coordinating with the Border Patrol on cases like this.

The mayor is concerned that in a city with a Latino majority, undocumented immigrants may be leery about reporting crime if they think the police will call immigration officials on them.

"Our concern is to target local crime," said Inzunza. "We do not have the resources to target federal crime. We don't have the resource to target state crimes."

There is a bill pending in the U.S. house that would encourage police around the country to report any undocumented aliens they come across. Supporters of the measure believe that it would help to beef up homeland security, but National City police said that they've already got their hands full.

"If law enforcement has to enforce immigration laws -- and that becomes one of our primary functions -- that could impact small departments like ours," said Sgt. Jose Tellez of the National City police.

As for Flores and his family -- the police said they were not charged with shoplifting.

Previous Story:

• November 20, 2003: Group Protests Deportation Of J.C. Penney Shoppers

[heleny]

Roger Hedgecock was discussing this topic earlier this hour. The city council of National City voted unanimously to tell the police not to call the border patrol when they find suspected illegal aliens, but the police chief (or the police union leader?) has since issued a memo saying that the police will uphold the law as they are sworn to do, basically ignoring the city council.

Not mentioned in this article: the rest of the family had matricula consular cards, according to Roger. Those people weren't deported -- only the two without any ID were deported.

[heleny]

If you go through the original page, there's also a survey:
VOTE: Should Police Report Undocumented Aliens?

So far the results are:
Should police around the country report any undocumented aliens they come across?

Choice                        Votes   Percentate of 173 votes
Yes, always                   132     76%
Yes, if they have broken a law 28     16%
No                             13      8%

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[VU4G10]

"and the two were deported to Mexico"

Hooray!

[heleny]

I'm glad those two were deported, but the National City police accepted matricula consular cards from the other people who could have been illegal aliens, too.

Since the border patrol came, they could have checked on the others in the group. Any alien in this country must carry proof of legal presence (even when not suspected of a crime), so the consular cards should not have been enough for them to avoid deportation. That's an increasing problem with the policies of National City and many other cities.

[kdf1]

The local police should definitely support state and federal law. They should also get funds from the feds for their help. Should there be a law that the local police shouldn't support? Law enforcement is their job, even if I'm the one that has to pay a ticket.

[ProtectorOfTwo]

Correct kdf1- last time I checked being an ILLEGAL alien WAS a crime..... ;). Looke like the officer did his duty and corrected a violation of a crime.

[Ecliptic]

This time the council wants to stop alerting the Border Patrol...next time an hispanic is stopped for speeding and is deported, the council will outlaw stopping speeders..sounds like mob law instead of democracy...

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Statement: "CA: Immigration Incident Ignites Debate [National City J.C. Penney]"

Response: Maybe "debate," "discussion," expression of different points of view is the problem! On the other hand maybe "debate" etc., is simply an avoidance reaction!

[Zipporah]

I attempted to report suspected illegals here.. the reply from the INS? I have to KNOW they are illegals not just 'suspect' .. I told the guy to read their own website that gives direction on how to report "suspected" illegals. What then did the INS tell me? I should call the police if the 'suspected' illegals are involved in illegal activity! UH I think being an ILLEGAL alien is illegal activity.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

The mayor said that the city has directed the police department to review its policy and -- in the meantime -- to stop coordinating with the Border Patrol on cases like this.

The mayor is concerned that if he enforces immigration laws he may not be reelected despite being mayor of in a city with a Latino majority, undocumented immigrants may be leery about reporting crime if they think the police will call immigration officials on them.

There. I fixed it.

[gubamyster]

ping

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Should police around the country report any undocumented aliens they come across?
Choice Votes Percentage of 648 Votes
Yes, always 595 92%
Yes, if they have broken a law 33 5%
No 20 3%

[Carry_Okie]

FReeped and bumped, thank you.

[texastoo]

Good attempt. Clapping!!!!

[sarcasm]

Should police around the country report any undocumented aliens they come across?
Choice	Votes	Percentage of 651 Votes
Yes, always	598	92%
Yes, if they have broken a law	33	5%
No	20	3%
Thank you for taking the NBCSanDiego.com survey. Check back here to see if others agreed with you.

[FITZ]

They were just returning a pair of pants,"

Or "They were just returning a pair of Mexicans". In border towns, it's quite common for people from the other side to be here without any permission, they are simply given a ride back to the border and sent home. Big deal.

[FITZ]

I can see a problem with reporting on people though. What if there is a neighbor of mine who suspects every hispanic-looking person as being an illegal --- I don't want my house raided because some friend of my kids might have looked like an illegal --- or even is an illegal. If they are on my property ---- invited, but not working illegally or committing any crime --- then I don't want police showing up. That's where I think the issue starts getting sticky --- how hard could they look?

[Zipporah]

In most areas, a huge percentage of Mexicans are illegal. If they would close the borders and enforce the laws that are on the books there wouldn't be a problem.

[JustPiper]

Ping!