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Police chiefs from across the country slammed the Arizona's immigration law and said to Attorney General Eric Holder that it would burden law enforcement.
The police chiefs said that local sheriffs are supporting the policy only due to political motive.
The police chiefs put forward their view in a meeting with Holder. The meeting was called as the Department of Justice drafts a possible court challenge to Arizona's new law. Holder has voiced concern with the policy, and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck had supported Holder. Notably, Los Angeles has boycotted Arizona over the new immigration law.
Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villasenor said, “The immigration law will create a fracture between police and the communities they serve as well as "severely strain our resources."
He added, "We doubt the federal government can even handle the numbers of people that we will bring to them now for verification on immigration status," he said.
It is to be noted that Arizona sheriffs have spoken out forcefully in favor of the law, but Villasenor asked the sheriffs to give a more realistic perspective about the new tough immigration law.
"When you talk about sheriffs, you're talking about elected officials, as opposed to appointed officials. That changes the perspective that you have when you come to a problem," noted Tucson police chief.
Minneapolis Police Chief Timothy Dolan remarked that victims of crimes will think twice before coming to police out of fear that, if they don't speak English well, the police may quiz them on their immigration status.
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