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Baltimore immigrants call for written police policy
Latino activists in Baltimore have asked city officials to put a written policy in place that would bar police from inquiring about the immigration status of those who call out for help.
The activists were joined by clergy and civil rights leaders in calling for the policy, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Reverend Robert Wojtek, the pastor of St. Michael’s and St. Patrick’s, a Southeast Baltimore Catholic parish with many large Spanish speakers, said that the document would clarify the fact that police are there to deal with crimes and violence, not address immigration issues.
“This policy has to be clear, written, and communicated, so that the violence will end and the real crime statistics in this city will be revealed,” he told the news source.
Police Chief Frederick H. Bealefeld III said that such a written policy was unnecessary.
I’ve been here for three years in this role, and you haven’t heard one utterance on enforcement of immigration laws,” he said, reports the news provider. “You don’t see us sweeping through the neighborhoods asking for immigration status.”
One way for foreign nationals to not have to worry about their immigration status is by taking part in the EB-5 visa program, which offers green card eligibility for investment in U.S. businesses.