Massachusetts
05-22-2012, 10:01 AM
Saying that he fears rumors percolating around the immigrant community could curtail the reporting of crimes, Police Chief Mark Leonard yesterday emphasized that the Secure Communities program will not have any effect on the way his officers do their jobs.
“If someone comes to report a crime, we’re not going to ask them anything else other than what happened,” Leonard told a collection of Brazilian residents and leaders at a conference at the station. “We don’t want someone to be afraid to report something to us, and then have a situation escalate and escalate until someone gets seriously hurt or killed.”
Rafael Faria, co-creator of The Bridge Program, dedicated to improving the relationship between Brazilians and other city residents, said there are many misperceptions about the program that need to be corrected.
Faria said there are rumors that police would stop “every car” driven by an immigrant, would deport illegal immigrants who reported crimes and even take the fingerprints of immigrants who went to the hospital.
“My biggest concern is if the police stop someone for a routine traffic stop, and the person out of fear does something that they can’t (take) back, like maybe fighting a police officer, or just trying to flee and drive like crazy,” said Faria, who is currently a reserve police officer for the city.
The controversial Secure Communities program was put into place statewide last week following a federal mandate. It requires police to send fingerprints from people they arrest to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be checked against its records.
The program’s main objective is to root out violent criminals, although many groups object to the number of non-violent criminals who have been deported.
....
The biggest fear voiced by those at the meeting was that illegal immigrants arrested for driving without a license would be deported.
Leonard said while he can’t guarantee those arrested for driving without a license wouldn’t be deported, minor offenders shouldn’t be at the top of the government’s list.
.....
“If you get charged two, three, four times with driving without a license, that could be a problem for you with ICE,” he said. “Then you could get bumped up the ladder a little bit, I would think.”
Those who see crimes in the immigrant community are encouraged to leave a message at a special anonymous tip line for Portuguese or Spanish speakers at 508-460-3549.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x1347546600/Marlborough-Police-chief-addresses-immigrants-concerns
Get charged with driving without a license, no question of immigration status. Get charged four times, then maybe they will begin to question your immigration status. No no no, they can't be mean to the illegal immigrants. That would be inhumane of them.
“If someone comes to report a crime, we’re not going to ask them anything else other than what happened,” Leonard told a collection of Brazilian residents and leaders at a conference at the station. “We don’t want someone to be afraid to report something to us, and then have a situation escalate and escalate until someone gets seriously hurt or killed.”
Rafael Faria, co-creator of The Bridge Program, dedicated to improving the relationship between Brazilians and other city residents, said there are many misperceptions about the program that need to be corrected.
Faria said there are rumors that police would stop “every car” driven by an immigrant, would deport illegal immigrants who reported crimes and even take the fingerprints of immigrants who went to the hospital.
“My biggest concern is if the police stop someone for a routine traffic stop, and the person out of fear does something that they can’t (take) back, like maybe fighting a police officer, or just trying to flee and drive like crazy,” said Faria, who is currently a reserve police officer for the city.
The controversial Secure Communities program was put into place statewide last week following a federal mandate. It requires police to send fingerprints from people they arrest to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be checked against its records.
The program’s main objective is to root out violent criminals, although many groups object to the number of non-violent criminals who have been deported.
....
The biggest fear voiced by those at the meeting was that illegal immigrants arrested for driving without a license would be deported.
Leonard said while he can’t guarantee those arrested for driving without a license wouldn’t be deported, minor offenders shouldn’t be at the top of the government’s list.
.....
“If you get charged two, three, four times with driving without a license, that could be a problem for you with ICE,” he said. “Then you could get bumped up the ladder a little bit, I would think.”
Those who see crimes in the immigrant community are encouraged to leave a message at a special anonymous tip line for Portuguese or Spanish speakers at 508-460-3549.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/features/x1347546600/Marlborough-Police-chief-addresses-immigrants-concerns
Get charged with driving without a license, no question of immigration status. Get charged four times, then maybe they will begin to question your immigration status. No no no, they can't be mean to the illegal immigrants. That would be inhumane of them.