The Washington Times
Washington, DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia -- More than half of the region's police departments have no written policies on how officers should handle issues concerning illegal aliens or immigration enforcement, according to information obtained by The Washington Times under Freedom of Information Act requests.
Nearly all of the departments with written policies prohibit officers from asking people about their immigration status in most if not all cases.
Municipalities such as Prince William and Loudoun counties, frustrated by the federal government's inability to enact immigration reform, are trying to reverse the trend through ordinances and enforcement policies.
"We're in a gray area," said Ronald A. Ricucci, police chief for the city of Takoma Park, which has the most lenient enforcement policy in the region. "Obviously, you don't want to put criminals back on the street."
Posted by tyne at July 18, 2007