In late November 2009, CHIRLA hosted a forum called “A Community Dialogue on Public Safety and Immigration Enforcement” which brought together the immigrant rights community and high-ranking officials from various law enforcement institutions in the Los Angeles region.

The law enforcement institutions included the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DHS-ICE-DRO) and the Pasadena Police Department (PPD). The community was represented by CHIRLA, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), Catholic Charities, the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF), and the ACLU of Southern California. Among other attendees were Merrick Bobb, head of the Police Assessment Resource Center (PARC) and special counsel to the LA County Board of Supervisors, Chief (ret.) Arturo Venegas, formerly of the Sacramento Police Department and head of the Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative, as well as representatives from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Consulates of the Philippines, People’s Republic of China and Mexico, and the offices of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Supervisor Gloria Molina. A special guest appearance was made by the recently appointed Chief of the LAPD, Charlie Beck, who broadly committed to working with the communities to achieve real and lasting public safety, and specifically affirmed his commitment to the department’s Special Order 40 (see here).

The forum was a unique opportunity for the community and local officials to work towards mutually beneficial goals: creating a space for dialogue, exploring ways of working together on issues both sides agree on, grappling with the dynamics of contentious issues pertaining to immigration, sharing experiences on the effect of local enforcement of immigration law in Los Angeles County, and gaining knowledge, information, and understanding of the immigration enforcement structure and infrastructure in the county as well as understanding of the implementation of ICE’s policies. It was also a rare chance for advocates to hear the divergent voices of law enforcement address each other and for the latter to have exposure to the broad spectrum of views within the immigrant rights community.

In three separate panels, representatives discussed and asked questions about ICE’s role in the Obama Administration, the role of the LA Sheriff’s Department, and the two community policing models of the Los Angeles and Pasadena police departments. This was followed by a question and answer period during which the other attendees were given a chance to weigh in.

Among the topics addressed were the revision of ICE's 287(g) guidelines, the subsequent request for new Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) with all local partners, the roll out and effect of the Secure Communities Program (SComm), and the continued use of other ICE programs such as the Criminal Alien Program (CAP) and National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP). The ICE representatives were asked directly what their plans were in relation to some of these programs and how they planned on addressing some of the concerns that have arisen. Sheriff Lee Baca was asked about the status of the new 287g program, which as of April 2010 he had yet to sign. He responded that it is the federal government’s purview to develop policies for illegal immigration and not his department’s. Adding that the LASD does not profile based on race or immigration status, the Sheriff made it clear he does not want his staff to be involved in any decisions regarding deportation and that he expects any adjustments to 287(g) by ICE  to be made in full consultation with him. He emphasized that this had not been the case hitherto. During the discussion surrounding community policing there was wide agreement that having the police ask for immigration status was detrimental to public safety. Both LAPD Deputy Chief Diaz and PPD Interim Chief Vicino stated that communities should never have to fear reporting crimes to the police. Chief (ret.) Venegas went one further, stressing that in the eyes of the communities, programs like 287(g) and especially SComm made law enforcement an extension of ICE.

According to attendees, the forum was a success in that it brought transparency and a better understanding of DHS policies and the gamut of the immigrant enforcement infrastructure in Los Angeles County. Community organizations felt that this type of forum is crucial in engaging the agencies that authorize and implement policies that affect their communities directly. The forum also allowed a place for law enforcement to hear the concerns of the community and take those into consideration when they carry out their policies for communities elsewhere and established an environment for addressing and discussing the difficult issues surrounding immigration and local law enforcement.

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