Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announces proposed changes to the way the Los Angeles Police Department handles Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions of some undocumented immigrant arrests

Chief Beck's Media Availability podcast

Los Angeles:   At a Media Availability Briefing at11 a.m. today at the Los Angeles Police headquarters, Chief Charlie Beck announced proposed changes to the way the Los Angeles Police Department handles Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions of some undocumented immigrant arrests. In the spirit of keeping with the intended purpose of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Secure Communities program (S-Comm) signed into law by the President of the United States September 30 2008, in which “ICE prioritizes the removal of criminal aliens, those who pose a threat to public safety, and repeat immigration violators,”  the LAPD is proposing to no longer grant an ICE Detainer Request without first reviewing the seriousness of the offense for which the person is being held as well as their prior arrest history and gang involvement.

The Department is currently developing the list of criminal offenses which in its view do not meet the intended purpose of the S-Comm program (e.g. public nuisance and/or low-grade misdemeanor offenses).  

Under the new proposal, individuals arrested for one of these low-grade misdemeanor offenses will not be subject to continued detention on the basis of an ICE Detainer Request absent additional information from ICE and/or prior felony arrest(s), or if the individual is a documented gang member. The Department will still honor detention requests on all felony and high-grade misdemeanor arrests.

Our goal is to implement the new protocols by January 1, 2013.  We will be meeting with  stakeholders’ representatives, and the specific protocols developed will be sent to the Board of Police Commissioners for their review and for public comments prior to implementation.

If you have any questions regard this proposed policy change, please call LAPD Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910.

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Comments

[BWop]

So, a federal agency issues a detainer or Want, based on a violation of federal law, and Chief Beck will put on his judicial robes and will decide if the detainer or want meets HIS criteria for detention?

Embarrassing. I hope the federal government, especially the Customs and Border Protection Service at LAX stops arresting incoming suspects wanted on LAPD warrants. After all, cooperation works both ways.

Pathetic cowtowing to illegal immigrant advocates.

[Rod]

Being retired LAPD, I'm appalled at the Chiefs stance on immigration enforcement. This new and related policies are in direct conflict with 834 of the penal code. Pick and choose is not his choice to make, if it's contrary to the law under 834. Illegal is illegal, and arrestees should be charged as such, regardless of whether any other crime was involved. Sure, process for the open charge, but place a hold for HSI.

[Mike Sherman]

In order to gain the trust of a small percentage of the LA population, the LAPD will cause a complete loss of trust with the entire legal, tax paying, voting public. It is unfair that an unelected offical has the power to change laws, and there is nothing the public can do about it.