City still trying to keep some information from ICE

    The City Police Department is still working on protecting information about witnesses and crime victims from Immigration officials as a result of a recent decision by Mayor Michael Nutter.

    Officials say there was no connection between the recent arrest of a Philadelphia store owner – on immigration charges – and a city Police investigation about robberies at a store he owned.

    Philadelphia officials recently announced they will not share information about victims and witnesses with immigration authorities to ensure people in the country illegally feel free to call the Police. But police are still working to make sure crime victim and witness information is not shared with immigration.

    Philadelphia’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison says, in the case of this arrest, the investigations were entirely separate.

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    “I can assure you that the information did not flow from the Philadelphia Police Department.  The immigration authorities have provided me with an outline that actually states that this individual was on their radar for quite some time. The Philadelphia Police did not share any information about his location or his background or anything else.”

    A spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirms federal immigration officials did not receive information about the man from the police.

    Gillison says federal officials can still access the names of the victims and the witnesses involved in Philadelphia police department investigations, even though city officials recently announced they will block access to that information.  He hopes to fix that in less than two weeks.

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