PHOENIX (AP) - A Mexican diplomat on Wednesday lauded Phoenix area police departments for sending out what he says is a message of peace to the immigrant community.
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Flores said the chiefs' message, issued at a news conference earlier this week, is a welcome one for the immigrant community, which he described as completely overwhelmed and restless because of an anti-immigrant climate in the state.
``This message that was put out by the chiefs of police has been something that comes to revitalize the trust of those who are in the shadows, those who are undocumented and who are willing to cooperate and contribute to the community's safety,'' Flores said at a news conference organized by immigrant-rights activists who wanted to voice their support of the chiefs of police.
Flores said the chiefs' message is a welcome one for the immigrant community.
He pointed to the state's new employer-sanctions law and to Maricopa County authorities who are arresting illegal immigrants under a controversial interpretation of a human smuggling law.
``Employers ... have already begun the process of streamlining their own work force, and in some cases they have let off some people,'' Flores said. ``People without a job who are heads of families are very concerned, and some of them have come to my office and said, 'This is it, I'm out of work for three weeks, this is the time to go.'''
Flores said he did not have statistics showing how many people have left, but that there have been at least a few cases.
However, not all law enforcement officers agree with what the chiefs announced earlier this week.
On Monday, a union for police officers called for an end to an immigration policy that prevents officers from asking federal immigration authorities for assistance in situations where illegal immigrants commit civil traffic violations.
The union says the policy makes the streets of Phoenix more dangerous.
On the Net:
Mexican Consulate of Phoenix:
http://www.sre.gob.mx/phoenix/
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