Immigration Summit In The Springs
By: Mireya Garcia
COLORADO SPRINGS- Police work to find solutions to immigration policies during a summit hosted in the Springs.
Law enforcement got the chance to tell federal officials what they go through and what they need to do their jobs to when it comes to immigrant communities.
” Most of the attendees, if not all, felt that we do need to see more leadership coming out of Washington DC. We are attempting to find local solutions to nationwide problems,” say Springs Police Chief Richard Myers.
Local law enforcement officers say they are unhappy with the deteriorating relationship with the immigrant community. “When a crime is committed they (law enforcement) depend on the community to come forward,” says Chuck Wexler, from the Police Executive Research Forum.
Federal and local officials say undocumented immigrants should feel free to come forward if they have information pertaining to a crime, because the likelihood of deportation is low. “The focus for law enforcement should be on those undocumented individuals that are engaged in criminal activity,” says Sheriff Terry Maketa.
Immigration advocacy groups say positive steps were made, but more work still needs to be done. The Feds will take the ideas discussed to the White House to make changes to the way immigration is handled in the country.
