It's time to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants who are productive, law-abiding citizens - the public's safety depends on it - Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel said Thursday.
In a telephonic press conference with several other law enforcement officials and in an interview with The Bee, Braziel - who has 30 years of law enforcement experience - said that crimes ranging from home invasions to hit-and-run drunken driving are going unsolved because undocumented witnesses are afraid to testify for fear of being deported.
"They're either victims or witnesses in crimes or accidents, but they don't come forward - you have a population of criminals who understand that and actually prey on folks knowing they're not going to call us."
Sacramento police will assist federal immigration officials in tracking down undocumented immigrants suspected of serious crimes, but will not routinely check immigration status in traffic stops.
Braziel made his call for immigration reform as part of the Law Enforcement Engagement Initiative, an organization founded by former Sacramento Police Chief Arturo Venegas Jr. to give police a voice in the immigration debate.
Braziel said Congress must take a two-pronged approach - tighter borders and a way to allow productive undocumented immigrants to stay here legally. Now, many are afraid to assist in criminal investigations, putting the general public at risk, Braziel said.
"We need to remember that there are at least 12 million people out there who are unauthorized to be in this country, and they're our neighbors. ... We need to start putting faces and names to these 12 million people because this is not an issue where you can deport people away. It doesn't solve the issue."
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