Immigrants ask DA to end cooperation with ICE
Friday, July 2nd, 2010
Immigrant rights advocates rallied outside of the Philadelphia District Attorney's office Friday. They want the DA to help end a policy that passes on information about immigrant crime victims and witnesses to federal authorities.
About two dozen immigrant advocates gathered in Center City Philadelphia on Friday to try to convince District Attorney Seth Williams to join Mayor Nutter in ending the policy. Immigrants such as Mario say the policy makes immigrants afraid to call police. He didn't want us to publish his last name or divulge if he's in the country legally.
"Right now, I see a lot of Asian people they got problem, because they got jumped they got robbed on the street and they don't want to report to the police because they afraid they will be arrested and deported."
Mario says the fear has increased over the last year because more and more immigrants are getting deported after being picked up for minor offenses.
The policy allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement to access data on arrest reports, including the names and country of origins for crime victims and witnesses. Mayor Nutter says federal authorities have no need for victim and witness information. District Attorney Seth Williams has not yet made up his mind whether to continue the practice.
Mayor Nutter, Seth Williams and City Council are placing the interests of illegal immigrants with arrest records above the safey and welfare of all who reside, work and visit the City of Philadelphia. Barring immigration agents from obtaining Phily arrest information makes Philadelphia an official sanctuary for illegal alien criminals. This city needs to clean up its act.