Resolution: Cessation of Profiling Practices by Law Enforcement Agencies

WHEREAS the League of United Latin American Citizens is the nation's oldest and largest Latino membership organization and since its inception has fostered higher education and the advancement of all Hispanics at all levels and facets of our American society and,

WHEREAS Civil Rights is a critical issue in the life of all Americans guaranteed under the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights and,

WHEREAS for several years, people in Anthony, Hatch, and Las Cruces have had encounters in which DASO (Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office) officers have asked them their immigration status during routine stops, detained people for longer than the reason of the initial stop, encountered ICE or Border Patrol officers riding in patrol cars with DASO officers, and encountered officers questioning the validity of documents and testimonies of people who are victims or witnesses of crimes (as stated by the Task Force for Immigration Advocacy and Service Southern NM in a written request for action, to the Dona Ana Council of Commissioner on Feb. 28, 2012) and,

WHEREAS the Civil rights of Latin American and other minority groups are alarmingly and increasingly being infringed upon by law enforcement officials at municipal, county, and state levels throughout our nation with the practice of" profiling" being extended to other facets of our life e.g.; the Zimmerman case in Sandford, Florida) and,

WHEREAS an example of taking this practice to an official policy level is Arizona's SB 1070-a law being challenged by the Obama administration through the U.S. Supreme Court; a law that threatens to institutionalize "profiling" and,

WHEREAS the U.S. Dept. of Justice has launched a civil rights probe of the Maricopa County Sheriff s alleged abuse of power in this regard;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Mexico league of United Latin American Citizens hereby entreat our elected public officials at all levels of government to compel law enforcement officials to respect the Civil Rights of all Americans with special attention to ceasing and desisting the practice of profiling Hispanics and other victimized minority groups.

Approved this 30th day of June 2012.

Margaret Moran
LULAC National President