RALEIGH, N.C. – In the first 50 days of the Trump Administration, immigration officials have made more than 32,000 arrests, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
News of arrests and online hoaxes have caused fear in parts of the Hispanic community. The Raleigh Police Department wants the public to know they are not ICE and they are here to assist the community.
What You Need To Know
- The Raleigh Police Department has no jurisdiction over ICE’s operations
- The RPD said they would only ever be at an ICE raid if they were called for a danger of life or property
- Sgt. Edwin Garcia said the department does not look up the immigration status of people they interact with
- The RPD is working to maintain trust and relationships with the Hispanic community through resources and outreach
Sgt. Edwin Garcia with the Raleigh Police Department's community policing unit said part of his job is to build a relationship with the community.
“My job specifically is to create that outreach to the Hispanic community, as a Hispanic officer, and bridge that gap,” Garcia said.
Garcia is one of the Raleigh Police Department’s Spanish-speaking officers. If needed, translator services can be used on calls, but Garcia said officers who can speak and use Spanish will receive bonuses from the department.
“That ability to be able to connect, culturally, to be able connect just by the language itself is very important for someone needing assistance from us and us being able to provide that assistance,” Garcia said.
Through the years, he said more Hispanic officers have joined the force, creating a stronger relationship throughout with the community. Although stereotypes, rumors and prejudice views have formed prenotions of police officer’s jobs.
“They think we're, where we're going to be able to enforce immigration status or look up immigration statuses on individuals. For example, if it's a traffic stop for a vehicle violation or speeding violation, many times they think we're able to look up their immigration status in our systems,” Garcia said. “And that's not the case. We don't partake in deportation processes. That is not the function of the police department."
He said the department does not know when or where an ICE raid will take place ahead of time. Garcia said the function of the department is to maintain order and police officers would only ever be at the scene of an ICE raid if they were called for a danger of life or property, not to make a deportation arrest.
“Its all of our responsibility to be able to provide accurate information, reduce the rumors, reduce the fear by providing accurate and concise details about what's going on,” Garcia said. “Its all of our responsibility to be able to provide accurate information, reduce the rumors, reduce the fear by providing accurate and concise details about what's going on,” Garcia said.
In January, rumors of an ICE raid in Durham was circulating online, inciting panic. But those rumors were false. Garcia said the best way to get in front of rumors, is going on is to call the department.
“Call the Raleigh Police Department, which is a non-emergency number, or 911, and just have an officer request for an officer to call. We can call them back and have that discussion with them, and provide them with the best information we can,” Garcia said.
Last summer, Garcia visited Mexico for a week and saw the immigration process at the border, what he called an "eye opening experience."
From his trip, Garcia was taught about the Mexican consulate which, with documentation, can provide a Consular ID.
“That's a huge challenge for us to prove who we're speaking to and who they are. Or whether they're saying they are who they are. But with that consular ID, we know that there is proven, a background check through government entities in Mexico that they can get it here,” Garcia said.
The state has many consulates based on the country.
Garcia and others have been working in the community to provide resources, and an open line of communication during this time through community events and public comments, including podcasts and RPD’s social media.
“Outreach is the key word. It’s not waiting for them to call us, but us going to them,” Garcia said.
For any questions or for more clarity, Garcia said to contact the department.
Related article: Mecklenburg County sheriff responds to ICE on arrest of illegal immigrants
