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The attack on the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Order 40 -- which limits when officers can ask about the citizenship status of suspects -- has come largely but not exclusively from anti-illegal-immigration forces.
But now the order has a new and potentially potent foe: the family of Jamiel Shaw Jr., the Los Angeles High football star who was killed last month. Police have charged a gang member who was in the country illegally with Shaw's slaying.
Jamiel Shaw Sr. and his wife, Anita, a U.S. Army sergeant who has been serving in Iraq, appeared before the City Council on Tuesday arguing for changes to the 30-year-old Los Angeles Police Department policy as it pertains to gang members suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Shaw Sr. proposed that LAPD policy be changed so officers would routinely check the immigration status of known gang members who are crime suspects -- which he said would make it easier to immediately deport them.
"If you're a gang member who is suspected of committing a crime, why can't they check a database at the police station to see if you're here illegally? Why can't they check a database at the jail?" Shaw asked.
Shaw's son was killed March 2 while walking home -- allegedly by Pedro Espinoza, who had been released from County Jail just hours earlier. Police say Shaw was picked at random -- perhaps as part of a gang loyalty test.
Shaw, who spoke with tears running down his face, said repeatedly that he did not want to target Latinos.
The family's appearance drew rousing cheers in the council chambers.
Many police, political leaders and immigration rights groups oppose changing Special Order 40, arguing that it would make illegal immigrants wary of cooperating with law enforcement.
"We need information from the community to protect and police this city," said LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell. "The unintended consequence of local police enforcing immigration laws is that many [potential witnesses] in...