Recent years have seen a growing sense of distrust between some members of the community and police. Now one Virginia congressman is trying to forge a new sense of cooperation.
Police officers and the communities they serve should create new alliances. That’s the heart of a resolution before the House of Representatives this week, an effort spearheaded by Republican Congressman Scott Taylor of Virginia Beach.
“While we say it’s important for both sides, look we’re all on the same team. We’re all Team America. So it’s important for people not to feel like they’re being targeted because of the color of their skin or how they wear their hair or their clothes or something like that. At the same time, it’s important law enforcement agents not to be put in unnecessary danger.”
Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg at the Legal Aid Justice Center says the best thing federal law enforcement officials can do to build an alliance with the immigrant community is to prioritize violent criminals.
“Immigration enforcement has become essentially random, and undocumented people are being picked up for being in the wrong place at the wrong time instead of because some crime that they actually committed.”
The language before Congress is a resolution, not a bill. That means it doesn’t come with any money. But Taylor says it sends an important message.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
