Bernard Parks - CD8

COUNCIL APPROVES PARKS & PERRY RESOLUTION SEEKING REFORM OF I.C.E. "SECURE COMMUNITIES" PROGRAM

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-1 to approve a resolution authored by Councilmember Bernard C. Parks and Council President Pro Tem Jan Perry seeking reform of a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement Program called “Secure Communities”.

Launched in 2008, the program’s stated purpose is to deport undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes, through the sharing of information between local law enforcement agencies with federal immigrations officials.

However, statistics show that nationwide, about 80% of those individuals detained by I.C.E. under Secure Communities were never convicted of a serious crime. In Los Angeles County, nearly half of the 11,774 deported under the program between August 2009 and January 2011 had no convictions or had committed misdemeanors.

Parks, a former LAPD Chief, believes this undermines the intent of Special Order 40 – a 1979 LAPD directive stating officers would not initiate contact with a person for the sole purpose of determining immigration status – and previous efforts to build community trust in the police, protect due process rights and end racial profiling.

In a letter sent to Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris, Parks states: “As a past Chief of Police for the City of Los Angeles, I understand the critical importance of fostering positive relationships between community members and law enforcement officials that lead to the sharing of critical information in reporting and solving crimes."

“The implementation of the Secure Communities program has been detrimental to the immigrant community and has proven to conflict with its stated purpose of targeting individuals convicted of serious criminal offenses. Across the nation, figures reflect that approximately 80% of those individuals detained by ICE under S-Comm were never convicted of a serious crime.”

Parks’ resolution supports legislation that would allow local municipalities to opt-out of the program (participation it is currently mandatory), as well as protect the ability of victims to report crimes, and focus deportation efforts on truly dangerous criminals.

“Our community needs to feel comfortable sharing information with local law enforcement. Experience has shown that this open communication can prevent crime before it happens and help our officers close cases faster and with greater frequency," said Council President Pro Tempore Jan Perry, who’s neighboring 9th District is home to large number of immigrants. "We need to ensure that we protect the important relationships that our officers have built with our communities so that they can do their jobs effectively and people continue to feel protected."

Los Angeles now joins a growing number of individuals and organizations that are questioning the efficacy and true intent of the program, such as US Senator Robert Menendez (NJ), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-16th), Governor Pat Quinn (IL), Governor Andrew Cuomo (NY), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and The Los Angeles Times.