Phoenix police adopt new immigration-related policies
Aug 1, 2017, 4:36 AM | Updated: 8:30 am
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department adopted new policies Monday that will alter the way officers interact with immigrants in the community.
The new policy was posted on the city’s website. It barred officers from asking a crime victim or witness about their immigration status.
It also prohibited school-resource officers from contacting Immigration and Customs Enforcement while on school grounds
The policy amendments did not change how police interact with a suspect, regardless of immigration status. All arrested individuals have their immigration status verified by the federal government before they’re released, under Arizona law.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona said before the policy was adopted that it would like to see further safeguards against biased policing in even more situations, but praised the policy in a Monday post.
The proposals come amid a national conversation on immigration and policing, reignited by President Donald Trump and his executive orders that allow local police to take a more aggressive role in identifying people who do not have legal status.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
