Special Order 40

Thirty years ago, Los Angeles told its police officers that it couldn't pull stop someone simply to see if they were in the country legally. Authorities wanted to build trust with illegal immigrants, so if they spotted a crime or were victimized themselves, they wouldn't be scared to report it.

They called it Special Order 40, and it's been standard-operating procedure there ever since.

But there's a growing movement to overturn 40 or amend it, at least, the New York Times reports. Some want LAPD to go after gang members who are in the country illegally, so they can be deported. One of the leading voices is the father of Jamiel Shaw, a good student/football hero who was murdered by gangsters just a few doors from his home.

Comments

[thorswitch]

I do agree that illegal immigration can be a problem, but we need to find ways that ensure we minimize the possibility that legal immigrants and actual citizens don't end up at risk of being harassed or have their rights otherwise violated in the process.

I think if Special Order 40 were to be totally reversed, it would be far too open to abuse. There's really no way to tell by sight or sound if someone is here illegally or not. Just within the Latino community, where most of the concern about illegal immigration seems to be focused, I believe that the majority are here legally. Some are legal immigrants here on work or school visas, some are naturalized citizens, and some have been born here - and I don't mean just those who's parents came into the country just in time for the baby to be born here, but also families that have been US citizens for 2 or more generations.

The linked article notes that:

Councilman Dennis Zine, a former police officer, has proposed amending Special Order 40 to require that gang members found to be illegal immigrants be reported to federal authorities.

THAT suggestion, I have no problem with. I also wouldn't have a problem if it was extended to checking the immigration status of someone where there is reasonable cause to believe they are involved in gang activity (such as gang tattoos, jewelery or other insignia, associating with known gang members, etc.)

[James Hart]

Thor: Really good points. I know that, in Missouri, some Latino leaders have been worried about highway patrol doing immigration enforcement because there will be a lot of U.S. citizens pulled over/delayed simply because they're Hispanic.

[ddh]

If your Illegal your illegal , Secure the border and deport these Criminals . The problem is so simple cut off the jobs and services to these Criminals !!!

[Brittanicus]

There is a RED ALERT today as Leading Democrats, trying to force on the American public another AMNESTY. Go here to read about this current travesty of Immigration laws. This will give millions of aliens, fast access to your tax dollars in welfare payments. You decide at WWW.numbersusa.com. Toll free your Democratic representative at 202-224-3121 )
Only unrelenting American patriots can stop the move towards any AMNESTY. State laws such as Arizona, Georgia, Oklahoma and Rhode Island has shown that by closing the doors to illegal immigrants, their unemployment rate was reduced. With illegal aliens fleeing these states, predator employers have had to hire legal citizens and green card holders. Here is an amazing exposure of Arizona economic recovery!
(http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/05/15/striking-changes-in-arizona-as-illegal-immigrants-flee-the-state/#comment-62672 ) Just read this disturbing revelation of costs, that our government skims from our paycheck to pay an illegal Paul. (www.eagleforum.org/sources)

[SAW]

I thought this was an article about special ordering my favorite brand of 40 oz.

Damn!

[Marvin]

Illegal immigration is a FEDERAL problem. If you force local law enforcement to start acting like INS, you start to compromise their original mission (providing security for local jurisdictions).

[in2ropin]

This isn't about a 40 oz? Crap, forced my self to read about immigration, cause I thought we'd earn a 40 oz at the end! Would you change the title please?

[Rickster]

I love these ICE Agents! They are doing the work the LAPD and others are too afraid to do.
I just thought of a great way to deport the illegals from Mexico. You know how the Mexican truckers were recently allowed to make deliveries within the 48 States. How about when they make their return trip with an empty trailer they fill it up with illegals? Traveling across the border jam packed in a trailer is probably how some of these illegals got here. Now their return trip can be a familiar experience :) Sure, not all illegals are from Mexico but this is a solution for about 70% of the problem. They say we can't deport them all... I say Si Se Puede!!

[Rickster]

I love these ICE Agents! They are doing the work the LAPD and others are too afraid to do.
I just thought of a great way to deport the illegals from Mexico. You know how the Mexican truckers were recently allowed to make deliveries within the 48 States. How about when they make their return trip with an empty trailer they fill it up with illegals? Traveling across the border jam packed in a trailer is probably how some of these illegals got here. Now their return trip can be a familiar experience :) Sure, not all illegals are from Mexico but this is a solution for about 70% of the problem. They say we can't deport them all... I say Si Se Puede!!

[Rickster]

I love these ICE Agents! They are doing the work the LAPD and others are too afraid to do.
I just thought of a great way to deport the illegals from Mexico. You know how the Mexican truckers were recently allowed to make deliveries within the 48 States. How about when they make their return trip with an empty trailer they fill it up with illegals? Traveling across the border jam packed in a trailer is probably how some of these illegals got here. Now their return trip can be a familiar experience :) Sure, not all illegals are from Mexico but this is a solution for about 70% of the problem. They say we can't deport them all... I say Si Se Puede!!

[Buzzm1]

The email addresses of 30 pro-illegal CA Assembly Members. They come in handy.

Assemblymember.bess@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.beall@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.berg@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.blakeslee@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.brownley@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.carter@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.davis@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.desaulnier@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.dymally@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.eng@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.evans@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.feuer@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.galgiani@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.hancock@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.hayashi@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.huffman@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.karnette@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.krekorian@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.laird@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.leno@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.levine@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.lieber@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.lieu@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.ma@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.mullin@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.price@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.ruskin@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.swanson@assembly.ca.gov; Assemblymember.wolk@assembly.ca.gov

[Buzzm1]

These come in handy:

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
District 1 - Ed Reyes
District 2 - Wendy Greuel
District 3 - Dennis P. Zine
District 4 - Tom LaBonge
District 5 - Jack Weiss
District 6 - Tony Cardenas
District 7 - Richard Alarcón
District 8 - Bernard Parks
District 9 - Jan Perry
District 10 - Herb J. Wesson, Jr.
District 11 - Bill Rosendahl
District 12 - Greig Smith
District 13 - Eric Garcetti
District 14 - José Huizar
District 15 - Janice Hahn
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton
Police Commision President Anthony Pacheco
Police Commision Vice President John Mack
Police Commisioner Andrea Ordin
Police Commisioner Robert M. Saltzman
Police Commisioner Alan J. Skobin
Supervisor Gloria Molina
Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky
Supervisor Don Knabe
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich

Dear Mayor, Council Members, Police Chief, Police Commissioners, and Supervisors:

mayor@lacity.org; councilmember.reyes@lacity.org; councilmember.greuel@lacity.org; councilmember.zine@lacity.org; councilmember.labonge@lacity.org; councilmember.weiss@lacity.org; councilmember.cardenas@lacity.org; councilmember.Alarcon@lacity.org; councilmember.Parks@lacity.org; councilmember.Perry@lacity.org; councilmember.Wesson@lacity.org; councilmember.Rosendahl@lacity.org; councilmember.Smith@lacity.org; councilmember.Garcetti@lacity.org; councilmember.Huizar@lacity.org; councilmember.Hahn@lacity.org; contact@lapdonline.org; V8834@lapd.lacity.org; skobina@lapd.lacity.org; molina@bos.lacounty.gov; SecondDistrict@bos.lacounty.gov; zev@bos.lacounty.gov; don@bos.lacounty.gov; FifthDistrict@lacbos.org

Subject: An Opportunity

Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 5:31 pm

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For your consideration:

Most of you are aware that pro-illegal AZ Governor Napoliitano took over 1 million dollars of funding away from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio this past week. Apparently numerous people from all over the U.S. phoned Joe to see if he would accept donations, and then a very popular local radio personality started the "Pennies For The Possee" fundraiser for Sheriff Joe.

Sheriff Joe embodies what most of us believe in, when it comes to our country. I see this as an opportunity to show the illegals and the pro-illegal legislators how very strongly we feel about this issue.

Sheriff Joe, as you know, always gets a lot of air time, and shoots from the hip.

I'm a donor. I'm retired and on a fixed income, but I'll give Sheriff Joe $100 to keep making that very strong outspoken statement. I can't think of a better way to spend my money.

Name removed

Sheriff Arpaio accepting donations to fight illegal immigration

The sheriff made news when he set up an illegal immigration hotline. Now he's set up another one to help fund his efforts to fight it. Earlier this week, the governor cut money more than $1 million from the sheriff's budget to fund a statewide task force to hunt fugitives.

Arpaio said residents and people from out of state called to donate their own money to fund his fight against illegal immigration. "We're receiving emails and calls from people that just were angry and just wanted to know how they can help."

He said donations can be made out to MCSO Donation Fund and must be earmarked for illegal immigration. Checks should be mailed to 100 West Washington, Ste. 1900, Phoenix, Ariz., 85003

KTAR-FM host Larry Gaydos hosted a radio-thon "Pennies for the Posse" on Wednesday night to raise money for the sheriff's effort to fight illegal immigration.

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=839554

[dharc]

Why do Mexicans and all the idiot politicians think they are special and do not have to obey the laws? What law can you or I break and get away with it? Then on top of it they squirt out babies like tasty bread and then make us lawful American taxpayers pay tens of millions of dollars in foodstamps,WIC, HUD housing,medical and on and on.In Mexico the police are trying for political asylum because heads are being cutoff etc. one top guy had 50 bullet holes in him. You think that Bratton would be worried about having a AK 47 shoved up his backside.These people are real bad actors,not a high schooler with one joint in his pocket.Maybe Bratton can go back to Boston and take Villaregoisa and Johnny Sutton with him.Take the stinkin Times paper with them also.

[Bobby]

I do not believe the reason given for originally putting speical order 40 into effect. The idea that othe illegal aliens wouldn't be frightened in reporting a crime or being victimized themselves as a reason for special order 40. No, it was just the liberals way of thumbing there noses at the law just as they allow it(immigration law)to be abused today. It is now time to get rid of this farce of an order and restore the law that can keep Americans safe by enforcing special order 40. The liberal Democrats have had long enough. Innocent People are now getting killed.

[Radioactive]

Illegal immigration supporters' (La Raza, LULAC, MALDEF, ACLU) say illegals are afraid to report crimes against themselves because they will be targeted for deportation. They are against towns using the 287g Criminal Alien Program and are pro-Special Order 40.
They either don't know that there is a "special" visa program that protects illegal invaders while they help with law oficers, (which I doubt is the case) or they simply use this as an excuse to keep law enforcement from checking for llegal status!
Take your pick.

[E]

Suppose the indirect hidden confession is that "Thirty years ago, Los Angeles told its police officers", ... boloney. Indirectly saying the U.S. fed will not participate, cooperate, not refund cost overhead for doing that part of the work is chargable to the U.S. fed. What U.S. fed gun bill (Bradey bill?) was found to be an illegal use of non-U.S. fed funds. Special Order 40 A L S O a U.S. fed unfunded mandate? CONFESS, IT IS SPECIAL ORDER 40! Or are we all dumber and suupider than our U.S. fed?

[Terry]

Special order 40 is a LAPD / city policy not a law. It can not become a law as it would violate federal law. This is a look the other way policy that purports to engage the illegal immigrant community to cooperate with the police in criminal investigations.

The reality is that it only serves the illegal immigrant community as a safe harbor. Illegal immigrants, in general, see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil when it comes to crime unless they are a direct victim of that crime.

If a serious crime is committed by a legal or illegal immigrant from Mexico or south America, chances are they will be in Mexico within 2 hours of the crime and there is little or no chance getting them back to the U.S. to face criminal charges if there true identity is discovered by information obtained by the illegal immigrant community.

Keep in mind the illegal immigrant community has a different mind set and culture. What we consider a crime they do not. It's not uncommon for a wife to get slapped around in many of these illegal immigrant communities and no one will report it as a crime. It's a acceptable practice where they have came from. Animal abuse also comes to mind. Cock fights in back yards occurs often. I have witnessed both.

The city of Los Angeles, and California in general, has it's own un-written immigration policy which is heavily influenced by our neighbors and there culture to the south. It's a regular occurrence to celebrate a foreign country's national holiday with tax payer funds. Cinco de Mayo comes to mind. (Mexico's independence day)

Special order 40 is nothing more than a policy that encourages illegal immigration and undermines federal law and it's efforts. It caters to the criminal element and insures power for the political hierarchy that relies on voter fraud and the anchor baby population that annually comes of age. It serves no other purpose and if you think otherwise, come to Los Angeles and live here.

Special order 40 dose very little in criminal intelligence gathering, arrests, or prosecutions. It prevents LAPD from using law enforcement tools under the disguise of some sort of cooperation with the illegal immigrant community.

The Mayor, the City Council, The California State legislature will not now, or ever, change it's written and un-written policies unless all federal funds going to this state are cut-off including education, highway, law enforcement, health care, welfare, etc. Even that may not prevent such change in policy's from occurring. The elected officials have to much power to lose to change anything.

There is something to be said about the multi-cultural diversity in Los Angeles and California. I will leave that up to you to decide what it is.

[Terry]

"Illegal immigration is a FEDERAL problem. If you force local law enforcement to start acting like INS, you start to compromise their original mission (providing security for local jurisdictions)."

Please explain to me what a "FEDERAL" problem is and who is the federal government?

I am certain the answer will be amusing.