On Wednesday the Costa Mesa City Council approved a plan to have police officers enforce immigration laws. The Police department, based on a plan put forward by the Costa Mesa Mayor, Allan Mansoor, will be trained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials over a 3 1/2 week period to enforce immigration laws while conducting their normal duties. So while police technically are not supposed to be looking for undocumented immigrants, they now do have the right to ask about status when suspected of other crimes. If a person is determined to be in the country “illegally”, police will contact immigration officials to begin proceedings that could lead to detention and deportation.

In my opinion, this opens the door to racial profiling, with police conducting traffic stops and other anti-crime measures in certain neighborhoods and/or against people who fit the stereotypical profile of an undocumented immigrant. And is there so little for Police to deal with in Costa Mesa that they needed this additional responsibility?

Via / The Daily Pilot