The City Council Tuesday called on the Los Angeles Police Department to prepare a report on concerns that immigrants living in the country illegally may not be reporting crimes as often since President Donald Trump took office.
According to a motion that was submitted by City Councilwoman Nury Martinez and approved on a 15-0 vote, there have been multiple reports since Trump’s inauguration of immigrants deciding against contacting local law enforcement to report crimes in which they have been the victims or about which they have information.
Trump has vowed to increase the number of deportations of immigrants in the country illegally and has pressed local governments to be more cooperative with immigration enforcement. The LAPD has a policy of not routinely asking about the immigration status of individuals with whom its officers come in contact, and officials have reiterated since Trump’s election that the policy will not change.
“Despite this, some immigrants are still concerned that if they talk to the police, they will be deported,” the motion states. “It would benefit the council to understand the scope of this problem in immigrant communities across Los Angeles, and to hear what the LAPD’s strategy is to mitigate it and ensure that victims of crime feel comfortable reporting it.”
The motion directs the LAPD to report to the council on the number of reported sexual assaults and domestic violence crimes in immigrant communities in Los Angeles. The report is also expected to include discussion of any issues related to immigrants refusing to report crimes due to fears of deportation, along with information on the department’s strategy for “effectively and compassionately handling these types of cases in immigrant communities.”
–City News Service