Policy Changes; Pittsburgh Police Can't Question Immigration Status

A new law in Arizona gives police broad sweeping powers to question a person’s immigration status, but it's a question Pittsburgh police are not allowed to ask.

Pittsburgh police have adopted a new policy that bars officers from detaining someone for the sole purpose of investigating immigration status. The executive director of the Citizen Police Review Board said the policy was adopted after some officers began questioning people in Pittsburgh.

“People would be at-risk of being held for no probable cause of a crime but rather suspicion of not having the right to be here,” said Beth Pittinger of the Review Board.

Channel 11 News reporter Rick Earle talked to several Pittsburgh police officers, who expressed concern about the new regulation. The officers didn't want to go on camera, but they said they believe the new policy will limit their ability to do their job.

And they have the support of state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, who's introduced legislation similar to Arizona's.

“The policies that are being put in place to discourage local law enforcement from doing their job, from enforcing the law, enforcing federal law, that already exists,” said Metcalfe. “Illegal aliens are here illegally. That's why they're called illegal aliens.”

Metcalfe also said what's even more disturbing about the new Pittsburgh policy is the time limit officers have to hold illegal immigrants. If federal authorities don't pick them up in four hours, police must release them.

“They have a known criminal in their hands, somebody who's broken federal law, invaded our company and now they are going to release them to possibly do additional crimes against their fellow citizens,” said Metcalfe. “That's not right.”

Metcalfe said he believes there are 140,000 illegal immigrants in Pennsylvania, costing taxpayers more than $700 million every year. He also contends that the federal government has failed to enforce immigration law. But others argue that local police don't have the resources and expertise to do it. And the American Civil Liberties Union said it will ultimately hamper police.

“Whether they're legal or illegal, if they're afraid to come forward, if they're victims or witnesses, you can't effectively solve crimes,” said Vic Walczak of the ACLU. “You can't effectively fight the bad guys.”

The new Pittsburgh policy is similar to other police departments across the country. But right now, approximately 20 states, including Pennsylvania, have introduced legislation that would change the policy and give local police the power to question immigration status.

Gov. Ed Rendell said he opposes Metcalfe's proposal, but a recent poll shows Pennsylvania residents feel differently.

Fifty-eight percent of those polled in Pennsylvania said they want police to check immigration status. Thirty-two percent are against the idea. Still, 54 percent said they were somewhat concerned that it would violate the civil rights of some U.S. citizens.

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