Phoenix police to ask all suspects about immigration status

by Casey Newton - May. 22, 2008 03:31 PM

The Arizona Republic

Phoenix police may now contact Immigrations and Customs Enforcement when they suspect a person to be in the country illegally, a shift in policy that is expected to increase the number of illegal immigrants deported from the state.

Chief Jack Harris announced changes Thursday to Operations Order 1.4, the police policy on immigration that previously prevented officers in most cases from asking about a person's citizenship status.

Under the new policy, everyone arrested in Phoenix will be questioned about his or her citizenship. If an officer makes contact with someone who did not commit a crime but is still believed to be in the country illegally, the officer can give ICE that person's contact information over the phone or via a one-page form.

“It provides Phoenix officers with additional tools to aid them in the performance of their job and will further enhance criminal investigative efforts attributed to illegal immigration in this city,” Harris said.