Anaheim OKs Plan to Check if Jailed People in U.S. Legally

For the next two months, suspects booked at the city’s jail will be questioned about their citizenship as part of a stepped-up effort to weed out illegal immigrants who are committing crimes in the city.

The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to enact the procedure, which grew from the shooting of an Anaheim police officer by an illegal immigrant who had been deported twice. The immigrant was killed in the shootout and the officer was wounded.

The council also voted to form a committee to explore the possibility of asking federal officials to station an Immigration and Naturalization Service officer at the City Jail and find other ways of reducing crime by illegal immigrants.

“If the federal government won’t protect our borders, then we as local officials have to start some sort of action,” said Councilman Bob Zemel, who initiated the council action.

Officer Tim Garcia, 28, has been hospitalized since Sept. 8 with injuries to his thigh and pelvis from the shootout.

Garcia’s mother, Mary, pleaded with the council Monday to enact the stricter procedures.

“I hope no mother, no wife, no father has to go through what we’ve gone through,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.

The committee will consist of two council members, the police chief and other city staff, and a representative from the office of Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach).

Police Chief Randall Gaston said the department books about 15,000 people into the jail each year.

The chief said he will consult with INS officials about what questions officers should ask jailed suspects to try to determine citizenship.

Zemel said he wants Anaheim to serve as a model for other cities interested in working with the INS to deport illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

Bruce Bottolfson, president of the Anaheim Police Assn., said his group supports the idea of stationing an INS agent at the jail. He added that the union is not seeking illegal immigrants who are living peacefully in Anaheim.

“We are only after people who are illegal aliens that commit crimes in this town,” he said.