Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: Sun 06/25/2006
Section: Outlook
Page: 2
Edition: 2 STAR
 

LETTERS

Cooperation of immigrants

ONCE again, anti-immigrant zealots led by grandstanding politicians are seeking to harm the citizens of Houston with their short-sighted actions.

Let's get two things straight right off the bat - being an undocumented worker in this country is a federal civil violation - "not "a crime - and many foreign nationals are deported everyday from Houston who have committed crimes. Houston is not a "sanctuary" city.

Houston police depend on the cooperation of undocumented workers to solve crimes against any resident of Houston. Let's simplify things.

Suppose a resident of any Houston neighborhood is carjacked and the only witnesses are the undocumented construction workers building a house nearby. If the workers are in danger of being sent back to their country of origin at great expense and inconvenience, they will likely take an understandable "I saw nothing" attitude. Regardless of who you are, it is in every law-abiding citizen's interest to increase witness cooperation with police anti-crime efforts. Fear and mistrust of police will counteract the good relations the police have built with the immigrant communities in order to solve crimes.

Immigration laws are complex, and the Houston Police Department should not be burdened with the great time and expense of enforcing immigration laws that take away from solving serious crimes. Both Police Chief Hurtt and the police unions agree on these matters. Already many immigrants are likely wondering if they should report crime while the current debate rages.

Let's ask these anti-immigrant proponents if they want the local police enforcing federal civil rights laws, voting rights laws or the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many leading conservatives oppose local law enforcement of federal immigration laws because of the precedent that may be set for local law enforcement to enforce these other federal laws.

Keeping HPD's current policy on questioning about immigration status will protect the citizens of Houston while demonstrating compassion toward your fellow man. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

RANDALL L. KALLINEN president, Houston ACLU