Immigration Enforcement and Local Police

In recent years there has been growing pressure for increased authority on the part of state and local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws. Many large metropolitan police departments have resisted this pressure, arguing that enforcement of civil, federal laws pertaining to legal status is a misguided use of public safety resources, and a surefire way to fracture relations between local police and minority - primarily Latino - communities. While national political debate over immigration reform continues, communities face real tensions stemming from increased diversity. Human rights and human relations commissions have the ability to help bring understanding and develop solutions among law enforcement, immigrant communities and the overall population.

Our paper, Strengthening Relations Between Local Police and Immigrant Communities: The Role for Human Rights Commissions, sets out ways in which human rights organizations can work with police departments to address community tensions surrounding day laborer hiring sites, gang violence, and ethnic and racial profiling.