Police Chiefs Speak Out before State of the Union
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid reports that President Trump will address “sanctuary cities” and public safety at tonight’s State of the Union address, the following are quotes from law enforcement leaders and the Forum’s executive director:
Chief Chris Magnus, Tucson, Arizona:
“Let’s be clear: When people are suspected of felonies or are threats to national security, local law enforcement agencies should — and do — cooperate with federal immigration authorities. But in order to do our jobs, we need to build trust with all members of our community. A one-size-fits-all approach to banning ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions does not help us achieve that.”
J. Thomas Manger, Retired Police Chief, Montgomery County, Maryland:
“Ensuring public safety means ensuring all community members feel safe reporting crimes, regardless of immigration status. Imposing the responsibilities of federal immigration authorities onto local officers only makes that harder.”
Mark Prosser, Director of Public Safety (Retired), Storm Lake, Iowa:
“When it comes to public safety, federal authorities should not coerce local law enforcement into performing jobs that erode community trust. Local law enforcement just shouldn’t be in the immigration business for reasons spanning from training to resources to functional community relations. Policies that require us to do so prevent victims and witnesses from coming forward because of immigration status and unnecessary fear of local law enforcement, leaving everyone less safe.”
Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum:
“Republican or Democrat, Americans want smart immigration solutions that respect the rule of law and help keep all community members safe. When President Trump paints local ‘sanctuary’ policies as the problem, he makes it harder for local law enforcement agencies to do their jobs and build trust with their communities. Immigration is a federal issue, and keeping our communities – and our nation – safe means letting local jurisdictions tailor policies to ensure all residents feel safe cooperating with law enforcement.”