San Jose Latino Groups Consider Police Boycott
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – Latino groups in San Jose are threatening to withhold their support of a police gang crackdown unless the cops cut ties with federal immigration agents.
Jose Orta, a community organizer at Sacred Heart said there is fear that deportations will escalate now that the understaffed San Jose Police Department has brought in two agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"Immigrants are already not cooperating, they are already not reporting crime, and this is going to further deteriorate the relationship between the community and patrol officers," said Orta.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
He said they will refuse to report crimes to police unless the ICE officers leave town. But Police Chief Chris Moore said the federal agents will be limited to dealing with violent street gangs.
"The fears that some folks in the community have about these folks being used for administrative removals of aliens is not the case, and in fact I wouldn't allow that to happen," said Moore.
Community groups will meet Friday to discuss a possible police boycott.
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