LAPD Chief Charlie Beck says he doesn't expect an Arizona-style immigration law in L.A.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck thrust himself into the debate over policing and immigration this week by reemphasizing that his department does not stop people based on their immigration status.
Beck participated in Spanish-language public service announcements with consuls general from Mexico and five Central American countries to drive home the message.
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Immigrants need not fear interaction with his officers because officers are forbidden under court-mandated Special Order 40 from stopping people solely on the basis of their immigration status, he said.
The order, part of the LAPD manual created in 1979 by then-Chief Daryl Gates, has long been criticized by conservatives as limiting the department's ability to enforce federal laws. The order was designed to ensure immigrant communities will cooperate with police in crime investigations.
The issue resurfaced recently when Arizona adopted a law requiring officers to enforce federal immigration laws. Flanked by the consuls general, Beck said Thursday he does not expect an Arizona-style law to be enacted in Los Angeles.
Beck said the public service announcements were made in response to growing rhetoric over the issue.
“That’s the elephant in the room," Beck said. "There is a national debate about immigration and the local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement.”
Beck said once people are arrested, they can be questioned about their immigration status and referred to federal authorities to determine if they are in the country illegally.
The Los Angeles County jail system works with federal authorities to identify potential illegal immigrants who could face deportation. But the program focuses on violent criminals, Beck said.
Juan Carlos Mendoza, Mexico’s acting consul general, said Thursday his office supports the LAPD's work with immigrant communities and has not received reports of officers harassing Mexican citizens over immigration status.
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-- Richard Winton
EDITOR'S PICKS:
But of course the main job of LAPD and other So CAL/LA law enforcement agencies is to harvest those traffic tickets. Going after law-breaking illegals is a money losing deal for BK cities. Better to act as revenue collection agents for the greedy pilfering CA public employee unions and greedy CA politician hacks pigging out at the public trough
Posted by: peter | January 28, 2011 at 09:38 AM
LAPD should do another Public Announcement telling those same Illegals that illegal vending is against the law in Los Angeles.
Posted by: Robert | January 28, 2011 at 09:39 AM
LAPD does not make money on illegal immigrants. They make it ticketing us hard working folks who pay there salaries. With the mandate from the top to increase city revenues from traffic tickets, this announcement from the Chief was not surprising.
Posted by: phil | January 28, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Illegal immigration IS a crime and EVERYONE should be fighting this!! This a form of RAPE!!! These criminals sneek in to our country and rape the system for everything they can get!!!! It's a dirty rotten shame that this great state is over run by these criminals, most turn a blind eye to it!!!! It's no wonder tis state is in such dis repair and broke!!!!
Posted by: Borchy | January 28, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Can we return LA and California to Mexico? What a joke this country has become when the police Chief of a major city is busy assuring criminals who have invaded this nation and the nations they have come from that he will not enforce our laws. Beck should be arrested and charge with conspiracy.
Posted by: John Steel | January 28, 2011 at 10:24 AM
LA is a sanctuary city operating as such in direct violation of several federal laws forbidding such practices. Of course a scumbag union member doesn't care about laws.
Posted by: Joe | January 28, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Beck already "thrust himself into the debate" months ago when talk of the Arizona law first came up. This is nothing new. I seriously doubt that the political climate in California could ever be the wellspring for an immigration law similar to Arizona's.
Posted by: Brett | January 28, 2011 at 10:28 AM
if california got rid of the illegal immigrants especially in the central valley and los angeles the state would be empty. and then what would the teachers have to bargain with or the govenor trying to extort more tax dollars.
Posted by: msfaye | January 28, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Robert I agree with you on that point. Beck, is only doing this because he wants to stay in good with the Pint Size Mayor. Our next police chief, and mayor should be for enforcing the laws for the citizens.
Posted by: Tam | January 28, 2011 at 10:33 AM
I imagine that the Polcie Chief doesn't want to take any chancec of his checks from the Mexican government being stopped
Posted by: June | January 28, 2011 at 10:34 AM
"Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck thrust himself into the debate over policing and immigration this week by reemphasizing that his department does not stop people based on their immigration status."
Arizona does not stop people based upon there immigration status, it is checked after being stop for other offenses. Try reporting facts not your own bias opinions to sway the uninformed.
I returned to college after 25 years and could not believe all the liberal crap the instructors were trying to shove down my throat. But the 18 to 23 years old's were eating it up, not having a lifetime of learning. Poor kids are being brainwashed.
Posted by: Suds | January 28, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Robert should stop being such a rasist pig
Posted by: John | January 28, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Welcome to America, where european-americans can tell who's legal and who's illegal just by looking at the color of their skin. Its an amazing Talent these Racists have. Maybe they can patent it.
Posted by: Macca Doo | January 28, 2011 at 10:40 AM
I had high hopes for Charlie Beck as Chief, but sadly he is just another mouthpiece of Mayor Antonio "La Raza" Villa~Viagra
Posted by: Chck Simmons | January 28, 2011 at 10:41 AM
...so when does our Police Chief then expect to enforce existing laws?
Posted by: c-t-m | January 28, 2011 at 10:41 AM
You wanna start enforcing Federal law? Lets start by closing down all these "medical" mariguana drug dealerships.
Posted by: Macca Doo | January 28, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Chief Beck clearly does not understand the Arizona law. People do not get stopped for their immigration status. They get stopped or picked up for other things, everyone who gets arrested in Maricopa County goes through an ICE agent, no matter what color their skin is. I'm really sick of everyone misrepresenting our laws.
Posted by: Denise | January 28, 2011 at 10:50 AM
I hope Mr. Beck realizes that not all illegal immigrants are here to work. Some come here to do our country great harm. Let's hope his comments don't serve as a welcome mat to terrorists. http://www.fairus.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16910
Posted by: Louweegie272 | January 28, 2011 at 10:52 AM
During the last twenty years, it has become a prerequisite for an LAPD Chief to be a complete whore. How far up Beck's ass does Villaraigosa's hand actually reach?
Beck is quintessential company man. God forbid someone should expect him to actually enforce the laws rather than pick and choose the ones that politicians happen to like.
Posted by: DerailAmnesty.com | January 28, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Police Chief Beck reminds me of a frightened servant trying to please his masters.
I have no faith in him whatsoever.
Posted by: PortTabacco | January 28, 2011 at 11:03 AM
LAPD Police Chief Beck is simply another Open Borders, pro-lawbreaking pol who has no business being Police Chief anymore than Daryl Gates did. Gates broke Federal Immigration law in 1979 by pushing Special Order 40 but due to Congress' being controlled by the Democrats and with President Reagan's attention elsewhere, nothing was done.
Chief Beck should be thrown out of office but sadly, L.A.'s Mayor is the best friend gang bannging illegals ever had so don't count on it.
Posted by: levotb | January 28, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Peter: How did you jump from harvesting traffic tickets to revenue collection for California public employee unions? The politician angle I'll buy, but unions? I don't think so. They get their money by fleecing their members.
Posted by: Astonished | January 28, 2011 at 11:55 AM
We already have the same law. They are not carried out. Becks refuse to perform what the current law entails him to do. This is what I call incompetence yet we the people pay his high salary, benefits and pension.
Posted by: Josh Ooi | January 28, 2011 at 12:03 PM
"LAPD Chief Charlie Beck says he doesn't expect an Arizona-style immigration law in L.A"
The headline that shocks no one.
Posted by: Los Claus | January 28, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Now we the Police endorsing illegal immigration. Maybe we don't need the LAPD anymore and might as well disband the government.
Posted by: Duped Tax Payer | January 28, 2011 at 12:17 PM