Lawsuit targets police inaction on immigration

By Jessie Mangaliman
MEDIANEWS STAFF
Article Launched: 04/06/2007 03:16:37 AM PDT

Amid a national debate over whether local police should help enforce immigration rules, a lawsuit is charging San Jose and Police Chief Rob Davis with failing to report suspected illegal immigrants to federal authorities -- a practice that the suit alleges is itself against the law.

The suit, filed by an Orange County attorney and activist, challenges a practice that San Jose and many other police departments openly acknowledge.

If police were to pursue the immigration status of suspects, victims and witnesses, Davis has said, they would violate the trust of immigrant communities that they need to do their jobs.

But attorney David Klehm echoes the argument of federal officials who have asked police departments around the country to take a more active stance: Illegal immigrants who are arrested ought to be deported, rather than being "recycled" through the U.S. criminal justice system.

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No `politics of fear' in S.J.
RELIGIOUS, CITY LEADERS TAKE STAND ON IMMIGRATION RAIDS
By Brandon Bailey
Mercury News
Article Launched: 04/07/2007 01:37:27 AM PDT

A group of religious and political leaders vowed their support Friday for the San Jose Police Department's hands-off policy on immigration enforcement, adding that a recent lawsuit should not make residents wary of encounters with local officials.

"We won't enforce the politics of fear with our local police department," said San Jose's Vice Mayor Dave Cortese at a news conference outside City Hall.

Here's a little message from the Apostle Paul for all those "religious leaders" who are whining about the police actually enforcing the law:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. Rom 13:1-3 NIV
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