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Some local police reluctant to help in immigration raids

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By JOSH FUNK / The Associated Press

Wednesday, Dec 13, 2006 - 05:14:36 pm CST

GRAND ISLAND— While federal officers rounded up suspects inside meatpacking plants in six states Tuesday, local police tried to find ways to meet their obligation to help the federal agents without jeopardizing their relationships with their communities.

So police mostly stuck to directing traffic outside the Swift & Co. plants during the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, but officers were ready to enforce any violations of state or local laws.

The Swift plants that were raided were in Grand Island, Greeley, Colo., Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn.

Story Photo
A unidentified man holds his arms in the air as a federal agent puts chains and handcuffs on him Tuesday during a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at the Swift & Co. meat packing facility in Greeley, Colo. (AP)

Grand Island police stuck to a basic supporting role in Tuesday’s raid: helping federal agents where requested but not participating directly in the immigration enforcement.

“Inside the building, that was really an ICE operation,” Grand Island City Administrator Gary Greer said. “We didn’t have jurisdiction on immigration issues.”

Grand Island Police Chief Steve Lamken declined to talk about the raid Wednesday, but a day earlier, he said he didn’t want his officers directly involved in the raid because his department’s job is to keep the community safe, not to enforce immigration laws.

“To do that, people have to be willing to call the police and cooperate with the police,” Lamken said.

On Wednesday, Grand Island officials emphasized the ways they helped federal agents and tried to distance themselves from Lamken’s comments. But Greer acknowledged the raid raised concerns about maintaining trust with the community.

“It’s very important that our city government and our police department has as much trust as possible in the community,” Grand Island’s City Administrator Gary Greer said Wednesday.

State Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island said he thought the raid put the police department in a difficult position with the city’s Hispanic immigrants because it’s not the police department’s job to enforce immigration law.

“It’s a tightrope for them,” Aguilar said. “The Grand Island police department has built a sense of trust with that community and they want to maintain that.”

Police in Colorado face an additional burden to help federal agents, but police in Greeley, Colo., didn’t do much more than direct traffic and help control the crowd outside the plant. Police Chief Jerry Garner said ICE officials alerted his department Saturday of the impending raid.

Last spring, Colorado passed a law withholding state funds from cities unless their police cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The law is targeted at so-called “sanctuary cities,” which discourage or prevent police from helping enforce immigration laws.

Garner said no one was injured and his officers made no arrests.

The head of the police force in Worthington, Minn., said his department’s long-standing policy is to keep a distance from immigration actions “unless they need our help with some type of criminal activity.

“We’re trying to build a community relationship with the people that are here,” Public Safety Director Mike Cumiskey said. “For us to get our job done with public safety and crime prevention and community policing, we need to have the aid of our community. And it’s kind of hard when you’re out enforcing (immigration law).”

Cumiskey said neither Worthington police nor the county sheriff played a role in the raid. He said police were given 20 to 24 hours’ warning so they could prepare for any backlash, but there weren’t any problems.

Moore County Sheriff’s officers and Cactus, Texas, Police didn’t respond either. Neither force knew about the raids ahead of time.

Cactus Police Chief Tim Turley said the city is overwhelmingly Hispanic, and he estimated about 70 percent of them are illegal.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials met the federal agents and escorted them to the plant but didn’t otherwise get involved.

In Marshalltown, Iowa, Police Chief Lon Walker said his department did not even learn of the raid until early Tuesday morning.

But after assessing the situation, Walker decided the police department would organize traffic control and crowd safety operations outside the plant.

Walker said the raids and media coverage drew significant crowds near and outside the plant all day.

“It was our decision to get involved to the level we did,” Walker said. “We felt that from a safety perspective, we should get involved ... so the crowd remained where it was supposed to be.”

Walker also said that if asked, he would have assigned department resources to the raid as he has with similar operations in the past.

Sheriff Lynn Nelson of Cache County, Utah, told The Herald Journal of Logan, Utah, that his department would have helped with the raid in Hyrum if asked. And Nelson said he wished federal agents would have communicated better beforehand.

Some confusion was created when the sheriff’s department got a call about a kidnapping around the time of the raid Tuesday. A deputy subsequently stopped a van suspecting the driver may have been involved.

It turned out to be federal agents with guns.

Grand Island officials and business leaders said it’s too soon to tell what if any lasting impact the raid will have on the city of more than 43,000 people, but Aguilar said he thinks the raid will affect the city for a long time.

“There’s a huge amount of fear,” Aguilar said.

And the workers who were arrested and their families will no longer be spending money in Grand Island businesses, and other Swift workers could be affected by disruption in the plant’s operations. Swift said all its affected plants resumed operations Wednesday but at reduced levels.

The Swift plant is the largest employer in Grand Island and several of the other cities where plants were raided Tuesday.

———

Associated Press Writers Oskar Garcia in Omaha, Todd Dvorak in Iowa City, Iowa, contributed to this report.


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Gerard Harbison wrote on December 13, 2006 5:32 pm:
" So the Grand Island police don't want to enforce the law, because they want to maintain good relations with the criminals and the people harboring the criminals. Lovely. "

 Scott wrote on December 13, 2006 5:55 pm:
" Finally, some action. Shame on the local police for not helping out. Isn't that what they are paid to do? If you are in the US illegally, beware. Maybe you should just get your family together and go home now and not risk being split apart. Your risk and choice if you stay. "

 Bill wrote on December 13, 2006 6:44 pm:
" Everyone want the Borders tightened up and something done about the illegal immigrations, but Law Enforcement doesn't want to do anything about it? This is ridiculous. "

 jerry wrote on December 13, 2006 7:37 pm:
" I don't know why lots of people are blaming law enforcement for the raids and the consequences from the children to the companies, when the sole responsability lies with the illegal people and the ones who are using falsified documents which some is identity theft the last I knew that was against the law,so it's there own fault and they are the ones that subjected their families and children to the consequences of their own actions not law enforcement or other legal citizens. But what about the people who were victimized by these people that had their identities stolen thats the ones we should feel for not the deliberate law breakers. And if any company is found to have a knowing part in anything like this they should be punished very harshly not just a slap on the wrist. Bottom line is you want to come to this country do it legally not illegal then get everyone to cry for you when you get caught "

 Ricky wrote on December 13, 2006 8:57 pm:
" So let me get this straight. ILLEGAL aliens. Police get paid to enforce laws. Shouldnt they be required to enforce laws? If not maybe they should find a new line of work. "

 why wrote on December 13, 2006 9:18 pm:
" police dept. job to enforce laws but yet refuse to do in this case in G.I. makes you wonder as a citizen what other selective enforcement they do or not do just so as not to upset a individual or a certain group. That makes you feel real confident in your local police dept.as a law abidding tax paying citizen "

 same ole same ole wrote on December 13, 2006 11:06 pm:
" why is everyone suprised, law enforcement always looks the other way all the time when well to do, weathly families break the law. "

 Kenneth H. Zike wrote on December 13, 2006 11:24 pm:
" Since when did the oath a law enforcemnt officer or public servant takes specify he/she has the right to enforce only the laws his Chief, and or local politicians want to him/her to enforce. The Chief of Police and every public servant who declined to assist Federal Agents in their mission should be charged with mal feasance. History indicates law enforcement officers who pick and choose the laws they are going to enforce and those they intend to ignore are practicing corruption. The Hall County, and Grand Island attorneys should enlighten the Chief and the City politicians of their responsibilities and the penalty for willfully violating their oath. It's hoped that the officials of the Swift meating packing plant will be held to account for each of the illegals they hired. Its time the law was enforced. I intent to write my Congressman and demand Federal Funds be denied, and withheld from the City of Grand Island. Let the local meat packing plant make up the short fall in funds. The illegals would not be in the Grand Island area if the meat packing plant was not providing employment. Its time the truth was told and someone did something to enforce the law of the land. If its necessary to impeach/and or terminate personnel than get it done. "

 Eric wrote on December 13, 2006 11:44 pm:
" I'll put it this way so the illegal-loving part of our population gets it. I am a white male. I have a family. I have young children. I decide to commit some crime, such as Identity Theft, or burglary or something even more serious. I get found out and go to prison. My family is mad and I am mad and I am separated from my children and wife, who may not get to see me for years. But being an illegal immigrant, who is breaking the law, committing identity theft, (A Felony offense), we don't want to break up these poor families because they won't be together anymore? What in the world am I missing? "

 nimby wrote on December 14, 2006 12:01 am:
" Let us suppose that a Hispanic person, legal or not, witnesses a crime being committed against a caucasian person. Do you think the caucasian person cares if the person that dials 911 or comes to his/her aid is legal or not? Maybe the Hispanic person, legal or not, won't want to get inolved. Be careful what you wish for. The police department is not the gestapo of Hitlers era, demanding to see people's "papers". That is the job of immigration and homeland security. "

 Steph wrote on December 14, 2006 12:21 am:
" Local police are not paid to enforce the immigration laws...Federal agents are paid to do that. Local police are paid to keep the community safe. The job of local law enforcement is much more difficult if they do not have the trust of the local community--and in communities that are heavily Hispanic, the trust in the local police force is going to be totally diminished if the local police participate in federal immigration raids. Police work has always relied heavily on community involvement to help them maintain the safety of the public, it isn't that they are being selective in enforcement-but if they expect help from the local citizens and are in a heavily Hispanic community, angering the locals seems somewhat self-defeating, at best. "

 Tim wrote on December 14, 2006 12:53 am:
" It seems to me that Grand Island needs a new police chief since this one wants to be selective on the laws he wants to enforce. "

 Nate wrote on December 14, 2006 12:55 am:
" Looks like nobody here understands the difference between federal, state, and local laws. It's much easier for the federal law enforcement agencies to take the lead with immigration issues. I don't see any problem with the police playing only a support role. Besides, aren't local/state police/sheriffs only sworn to uphold the laws of the city and state of Nebraska? "

 Travis wrote on December 14, 2006 2:03 am:
" If Law Enforcement officers are able to pick and choose which laws they want to uphold, maybe next time I am pulled over for speeding I will just use the same excuse. I don't like the seat belt law, so I choose not to wear it. If they can choose, so can I. "

 Bob wrote on December 14, 2006 4:42 am:
" From this article, it sounds like some cities in America are in deep trouble. I knew California was already decimated in parts because of hispanics destroying areas with poverty and crime, but I didn't realize how apparently prevalent it is in Nebraska as well. If we have entire cities that are mostly illegal immigrants, we have some serious and bad times ahead of us. At some point, we have to start doing damage control and start moving these people out as fast as we can, and get the confounded border secured! "

 nitemare wrote on December 14, 2006 6:32 am:
" The police dept. should all be exported or detained also. Their job is to uphold the law, not turn away and pretend the problem doesn't exist. We have way too many illegals here that should be sent home anyhow. WAKE UP AMERICA ! IT'S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE!! "

 Dave wrote on December 14, 2006 6:54 am:
" It's about time we started kicking the illegal aliens out of our country.As a tax payer I wander why it's taking so long.We should kick the companys that hire them out also it dosent make any sence giving them a slap on the hand.. "

 brian in lincoln wrote on December 14, 2006 7:44 am:
" if the police don't want to do anything about people being in the country illegaly, then who is? It has to start locally, but as we can all see by the majority of the comments, most people are talking about the economic impact....so, the $$$ are winning this war. Our state senator from GI is a disgrace to his constituents. "

 GrandIslander wrote on December 14, 2006 8:46 am:
" For the ump-teenth millionth time - the Grand Island Police DID NOT REFUSE to help the Immigration officials. ICE brought all the manpower they needed. GI Police gave them an escort to the plant, had officers stationed across the street in case there were some criminal complaints, and were on stand-by in case the ICE needed reinforcements. The reports that the GI Police Chief "refused to assist" in the raid is pure BS. It's out of their jurisdiction anyway! Stop bashing the GI Police, they did exactly what they were supposed to do!!! "

 One Who Cares wrote on December 14, 2006 8:59 am:
" Does it make any difference to people that local law enforcement (state, county and city) may NOT have the authority to do anything in these cases? The detention and removal of deportable immigrants, i.e. "illegal immigrants" is a CIVIL matter, it doies not violate any criminal code. Local law enforcement generally are only permitted by law to assist with criminal matters and thus are not allowed without special agreements in place to enforce the immigration laws. Could they help with identity theft issues, certainly. But we all know this raid was much more than about identity theft. Again, a big thank you goes out to GI PD and others across the state and country who do not get involved in federal jurisdictional issues. "

 A bigger problem wrote on December 14, 2006 9:51 am:
" Lets get past the fact that local law enforcement didn't participate for what ever reason. Here is the problem, states around the country need to pass their own law regarding illegal status. How many times has NSP or other local law enforcement through out the state of Nebraska stopped a vehicle containing one or two if not more illegal aliens. Answer...A LOT! I know because I have done it countless times. The fact is, ICE will not do anything because they don't have the manpower to come pick up every illegal contacted by law enforcement. Law enforcement has to let them go. If states especially Nebraska passed a state law that mirrored federal then we can do something. Once an illegal is arrested, ICE is more inclined to assist. Local law enforcement can help because we're the front line defense for illegal immigration. Give local law enforcement the tools to help our communities." "

 Sandi wrote on December 14, 2006 2:59 pm:
" How amazing it is to me that most of the comments I have read everyone seems to know all about the law and all about the whole of the "illegals". Well this is coming from a persom who does know. My husband and I met 11 years ago. He was an Illegal. Where I grew up I was very resentful of the Mexicans, because they took away our summer jobs of beaning and detassling. I have always said that God sent me my husband so I could understand the realities better. 1. You work - you get a paycheck-you pay taxes.As an illegal you don't file taxes so that money stays in the goverment bamk! 2.We payed many bucks to get my husband legalized. Including $1,000. extra for the right for him to stay here while going through the process and still work. 3. Once he obtained his 'green card' we then started the procedings for his 4 children in the spring of 2001. His son was picked up a year and1/2 later and we showed that he was in process. He was still deported. 4. His oldest daughter's fiance checked in the fall of 2004-the status at that time-they were currently on people who had applied around October of 1996. So even if they are in process and by the way all fees have beem paid. There is a fee for every single step of the process.They could still be deported.His oldest daughter has worked at her same job since arriving here.(8yrs.) 5.My husband is now a citizen. 6.My main point is this--how many of you that are complaining so much have no heritage other than Native American because all of your ancestors went through the same heart break just so the generations to come would be able to have the freedom of living in this wonderful country of ours.There is no work in their country and it has been that way for decades. Would you not do what ever it takes to make sure that your family has food, clothes, and a home--Your ancestors did! "

 Steph wrote on December 14, 2006 3:37 pm:
" Thank you, Sandi. I think that if more people actually knew people who had been through the process to become legal and just what it takes to do so they would not feel the way they do. I also feel that if we took the time to understand just how terrible conditions in Mexico were and talked to people who are going through the fiasco of trying to deal with being legalized some of us would check our "attitude" at the door. "

 Retired Trooper wrote on December 14, 2006 3:50 pm:
" The Chief of Police of Grand Island should be dismissed from his command due to not enforcing and assisting ICE with the raid. Those rounded up are obviously illegal imigrants. "

 Did anyone read the article? wrote on December 14, 2006 4:51 pm:
" If they had, all the nay sayers on here would realize everything they posted is contradictory to what the article said. The GI Police had NO jurisdiction. The GI police assisted with the raid as best they could within their capacity and jurisdiction. They helped make the raids a smooth process. Why should he be let go?? For doing what he was supposed to do? The illiterates are out in full force today. "

 Mike wrote on December 14, 2006 5:23 pm:
" i think if people bothered to read the article, they would find that the police chief acted professionally and appropriately. This was federal jurisdiction, and he let the feds take care of business while doing what they requested of him. "

 janet wrote on December 14, 2006 6:38 pm:
" A big part of the problem with illegal immigrants is they do what they want to. Why do they leave their children in Mexico (where there haven't been jobs for years) and come here and have more kids while they are in illegal status. There is not an abundance of jobs in Nebraska. Do they want to overflow Nebraska with population and no jobs like Mexico is? "

 o wrote on December 15, 2006 12:44 am:
" If it wasn't for illegals, some of Nebaska's small towns would become ghost towns. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you" or at least don't bite the hand that picked it, cleaned it, or cut it up for you! "

 Steph wrote on December 15, 2006 4:28 am:
" why do you think that the "white" folks will work the packing plants for the money that the illegals will? Do you see a huge influx of these Anglos wanting the vacant jobs at the packing plants? "

 Rod wrote on December 15, 2006 6:10 am:
" Since when has it NOT been the duty of cops to not enforce the federal laws. The federal government sets the laws on speed on interstate highways and the NHP ticket the speeders and the fines are collected for the state. Whats the difference between ticketing a local speeder or arresting an illegal, when both are violations of federal laws??? "

 head v. heart wrote on December 15, 2006 9:08 am:
" It is so easy to be judgmental against those who come here illegally and I admit I have had those thoughts myself, - why can't they just stay in Mexico or jump through the hoops to get here legally. However, having been to Mexico myself and having seen the poverty and conditions in which some of these people live, I can see how they would do anything and take risks to leave for a better life. It's not an easy matter to deal with. I just hope that we will act with just not our heads, but also with our hearts. "

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