During last month’s State of the Union, President Obama asserted that immigration reform will grow the national economy and shrink our deficits. If that isn’t enough to support reform, consider another benefit: it will make our neighborhoods safer. As a former criminal prosecutor, I saw that successful crime prevention grows from the roots of a community. Authorities respond to and investigate information and evidence provided by vigilant residents. Community policing also extends to courtrooms, where residents testify against those who threaten the security of their neighborhoods.
In the current economic climate of fewer officers, older equipment, and less financial support, law enforcement nationwide relies heavily on community policing. And this is precisely why immigration reform will reduce crime. Residents are most likely to assist law enforcement when they are deeply attached to their community and have a stake in its well-being. Immigration reform increases this attachment. Earned citizenship offers many undocumented residents a formal means of establishing ties to their communities. As immigrants create a permanent home, they are more likely to speak up in defense of their community.
Reform will also enhance community policing by educating immigrants about law enforcement resources. As immigrants earn citizenship, they will learn about the criminal justice system, and resources like neighborhood watches, police contact information, and anonymous reporting of crimes. A community must be fully informed about crime prevention if it is to capably assist law enforcement.
Finally, immigration reform will increase the level of trust between law enforcement and immigrants. In some communities, police are synonymous with racial profiling, harassment, and possible deportation. Accurate or not, this perception reduces information-sharing between police and residents. Under reform, each side engages the other with new respect and responsibilities. Authorities recognize that undocumented immigrants will not simply be rounded up and deported. For their part, immigrants acknowledge they must follow strict rules to obtain citizenship. This understanding will help improve the flow of information and evidence from the community to police.
All residents deserve to be free from danger in their communities, and immigration reform can help make our neighborhoods safer.
Peter Leroe-Muñoz is an attorney and Gilroy City Council member.
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