WASHINGTON, D.C. — Police chiefs and sheriffs met with members of Congress today to discuss immigration from a law enforcement perspective.
The Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force held separate meetings today with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), and members of the task force also met with President Trump, administration officials and other members of Congress while in town.
“Today’s meetings facilitated constructive conversations based on the principles of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force,” said Police Chief Tom Manger of Montgomery County, Maryland. “Though we cannot do their job for them, the safety of our jurisdictions is strengthened when local law enforcement and federal law enforcement authorities work together.”
“The primary goal of law enforcement is to keep our communities safe, and to do so we depend on building trust and engagement,” said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. “We look forward to working with the administration and Congress to ensure victims and witnesses of crime are unafraid to cooperate with law enforcement, further enhancing the safety of all members of our communities.”
Members of the task force unite around the following principles:
- When immigrants feel safe in their communities, we are all safer.
- State and local law enforcement should target criminals, not contributing members of the community.
- Federal law enforcement should refocus its priorities toward catching serious criminals and security threats.
- A larger legal workforce encourages respect for the rule of law.
- Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.
- State and local law enforcement need adequate resources.
The Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force includes more than 60 police chiefs, sheriffs and law enforcement leaders from across the country, ranging from major cities to rural counties. For more information and a full list of members, visit www.leitf.org.