The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California sent a letter Thursday asking law enforcement and elected officials to take steps to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement from using ruses in investigations of undocumented immigrants.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, immigrants rights advocates are questioning the ethics of ICE ruses, particularly when agents portray themselves as law enforcement in order to get information about people who are undocumented.
While it is legal for ICE to portray police officers, questions surrounding legality how this tactic is used have come to light after a recent video released by the agency, showing an exchange between an agent and a man targeted for deportation outside his L.A. home.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has shown opposition to the ruse of impersonating police officers, warning the tactic breeds mistrust between the immigrant community and law enforcement, and subsequently could create a “shadow population” susceptible to extortion or other crime.
Here's the letter:
Letter to LAPD from a coalition of immigrants’ rights and civil rights groups regarding ICE’s practice of i... by Southern California Public Radio on Scribd
Guests:
Michael Kaufman, Staff Attorney specializing in immigrants’ rights at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California; he spearheaded the letter sent by the ACLU
Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies at Center for Immigration Studies