Order prevents Los Angeles Police from inquiring about
immigration status of arrestees
Judicial Watch, under the California Public Records Act, requested documents from the Los
Angeles Police Department regarding its Special Order 40.
This special order is a police mandate that originated in 1979 by former Los Angeles
Police Chief Gates and the L.A. City Council to prevent police from inquiring about the
immigration status of arrestees. The downside to Special Order 40 is quite substantial
because it is a powerful incentive for more illegal immigrants to flaunt U.S. law. Illegal
immigrants recognize Los Angeles – and many other cities that have adopted similar
laws – as a safe haven.
So, to better educate the public, Judicial Watch requested documents about how the LAPD
handles illegal immigrants.
To date, the LAPD has not produced any of the requested documents. We sued the LAPD for
the documents on March 15, 2006 (click here to view). I hope the lawsuit will disgorge the
documents so we can begin to get to the bottom of the scandalous way the City of Los
Angeles undermines our nation’s immigration laws.
An Unsafe Border
A couple weeks ago, we told you that we had acquired a video of a dramatic car chase near
the Mexican and Texas border. In the video, you see a patrol car following a black Ford
Escalade believed to be carting drugs as it attempts to flee across the border at speeds
exceeding 100 m.p.h. At one point, the tire blows out and the driver abandons the vehicle,
disappearing over the fence and into the thick brush on the Mexico border. But the video
we received from the Texas Department of Public Safety is not what we had requested. The
tape we had requested allegedly involved a Mexican military vehicle on January 23, 2006.
There is no suggestion of a Mexican military vehicle or uniformed men in the footage we
received. Also, the time and date stamp in the video footage sent to us is January 22, not
January 23.
One law enforcement officer who was involved in this car chase said there was no doubt in
his mind there was Mexican military involvement. Several other sources, including Texas
Governor Rick Perry, have referred to video footage of people in uniform using military
vehicles. So is there some sort of cover-up going on with this video footage? Judicial
Watch will continue to investigate the matter and will keep you informed with future
updates.
Immigration Debate Heats Up
Speaking of border troubles, Hillary Clinton recently invoked Jesus as part of her efforts
to block legislation seeking to strengthen immigration enforcement. Her latest views on
immigration is at odds with statements she made a few years ago saying she was
“adamantly against” foreigners who enter the country illegally.
The battle lines are being drawn on the immigration debate and we know where Hillary
stands. Judicial Watch does not support or endorse particular legislation, but to suggest
that those who want to better control our borders would put Jesus Christ in jail is a
slander.
From the Desk of Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton
www.judicialwatch.org
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