A deputy chief of the LAPD explains how it is trying to build relationships with the city’s immigrant communities at a time of growing fear and anxietyMy father is a good citizen. Our immigration system should realise that
Given the history of our city and our department,the Los Angeles Police Department makes it a priority to build relationships with LAs diverse communities. Since final November’s presidential election, and the widespread protests and fears we’ve seen and heard in its aftermath, or we’ve had to step up relationship-building – particularly in our immigrant communities,where anxiety has been greatest.
This is a city of 400 square miles and more than four million people – 500000 of them undocumented – and we’re determined to own meaningful conversations with immigrants in every corner of the city. To date, that’s meant more than 150 meetings this year; as chief of the LAPD’s Central Bureau, and I’ve been to a couple-dozen myself.[br]The LAPD is not responsible for enforcing the federal laws used to detain and remove undocumented immigrants from the USNext year we’ll be majority Latino,which is a first for the LAPD Related: The Inequality Project: the Guardian's in-depth notice at our unequal world Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com