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Brooklyn Park Police Address Immigration Enforcement Concerns
With President Donald Trump bringing significant changes to immigration policy at the federal level, some Brooklyn Park residents raised concerns about the role of local law enforcement during a city council meeting.
“I really would like to express that there is a lot of support in our community to try and protect the immigrant population that we have in our midst here in Brooklyn Park,” resident Paula Weakly said at the Jan. 27 meeting. She was one of several residents who spoke on the issue.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Brule says his department is leaving immigration enforcement to members of ICE and federal agencies.
“We do not ask immigration status, we do not enforce immigration laws,” Bruley said. “That’s not the role of local government. And personally, it’s really important to me that our community understands that they can always report a crime to the Brooklyn Park Police Department — we will always fully investigate it. And I don’t need them to be in fear of doing that even if they’re here illegally.”
Revisiting Immigration Policy
In rare instances, such as a human trafficking investigation, Brooklyn Park police may work with immigration officials, Bruley said, but only when immigration is a critical part of the crime that’s been committed.
“Day-in and day-out, Brooklyn Park is not involved in immigration,” he said.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there’s 21,869 immigrants living in Brooklyn Park.
Of those immigrants, 33.9 percent are not citizens, while 66.1 percent are naturalized citizens.
The department is also revisiting its policies related to immigration in light of recent federal changes.
“There’s some language in there that could be more precise and cleared up, and so that’s the work we’re doing right now,” Bruley said. “But fundamentally, the policy’s the same. And that is, we have clear direction to our officers that we do not ask immigration status.”
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SOURCE: CCX MEDIA
