Racial Profiling Major Fear Among Immigrants Near U.S.-Canada Border

Customs and Border Protection officer performs a check of a car entering the United States from Canada.

WASHINGTON -- Immigrants and minorities who live near the U.S. northern border are fearful of Customs and Border Protection agents, accusing them of racial profiling, according to a report released Tuesday.

"We're really used to hearing about this stuff on the southern border," said Ada Williams Prince, policy director for One America, an anti-racial profiling organization that released the report with the University of Washington Center for Human Rights. "[Washington] is where they filmed the "Twilight" movies. It's all beautiful, but in reality you're talking about communities that have been harassed ... and are living under this climate of fear."

The report, based on interviews with more than 100 men and women who live within the border protection area on northern Washington, found many Latinos and Arab-Americans were afraid to call 911, even to report crime, because they said they did not want to attract government attention.

In some cases, One America found that border protection responded to medical emergencies calls or served as translators for local police, then inquired about immigration status. The study also found some immigrants were stopped based only on the color of their skin, according to One America.

A spokesperson for border protection said the agency "strictly prohibits profiling on the basis of race or religion" and follows the Department of Justice's "Guidance Regarding the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies."

The agency has been questioned about racial profiling before. The New York University School of Law, advocacy group Families for Freedom and the New York Civil Liberties Union released a report in November 2011, raising concerns about racial profiling by border protection in transportation raids.

Border protection rapidly expanded over the past decade, from 340 agents along the U.S.-Canada border in the 2001 fiscal year to 2,069 in the 2010 fiscal year. But on Tuesday, One America urged the government to stop growing its northern presence until questions of racial profiling are addressed.

Immigrant rights groups have raised similar concerns with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which often works in concert with border protection. One of ICE's key enforcement programs, Secure Communities, disproportionately nets Latinos, according to a report from Berkeley Law School.

Retired Sacramento, Calif., police chief Arturo Venegas Jr., said in November that local law enforcement could scare immigrants away from reporting crime by assisting in immigration efforts.

"The immigrant community needs to know that they can work with state and local police to put criminals behind bars and not risk their own deportation," he told House members at a subcommittee hearing on Secure Communities.

Senate Democrats attempted a national conversation on racial profiling, holding a hearing Tuesday. The panelists discussed the February shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager in Florida, as well as profiling of Muslim Americans and Latinos. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who led the hearing, emphasized the need to pass the End Racial Profiling Act, which would require federal agencies to adopt policies aimed at eliminating racial profiling.

"Let's be clear. The vast majority of law enforcement officers perform their jobs honorably and courageously, putting their lives at risk to protect the communities they serve," he said in a speech. "But the inappropriate actions of the few who engage in racial profiling create mistrust and suspicion that hurt all police officers."

CLARIFICATION: This article has been corrected to clarify that Families of Freedom is a separate organization from the NYU School of Law, although they worked together on the report.

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Comments

[CityEye]

10:16 AM on 03/14/2013

OMG here we go again. Customs and Border agents have found tunnels made to bring drugs into the US. There is human trafficking along the border and tons of other crimes. The radical Immigration Groups always come out to spin to try and US citizens sympathize. The fact is illegal immigrants cost taxpayer over $6 BILLION. Their kids get free breakfast and lunch so why do they get EBT cards still? They get free healthcare when Veterans can't get their benefits? Most of the hit and runs in LA now are by illegals who shouldn't be driving. I use to call myself Latino but no more. I'm a Mexican American

[tazscanner]

04:58 PM on 04/19/2012

Evidently the Canucks are'nt as "accomodating" as the Yanks on the southern border. Good for them. They evidently see nothing wrong with profiling.

[Norski]

12:52 PM on 04/19/2012

In this case one should ask if claims of Racial Profiling are for real or if they might be a knowing misuse of a legal concept meant to defend the disadvantaged in order to shelter illegal activity. Per Pew Center data 78% of the people living in the USA illegally are identified as Latino. EVERY definition of racial profiling relies purely on statistics. Racial Profiling is defined as proportionally many more people of one race or ethnic background being involved in something compared to their share of the RELEVANT population.

Because of the make-up of our Illegal Immigrant population there is no way ANY form of immigration law enforcement can escape the label of Racial Profiling as long as people insist on comparing investigation rates to the general US population. But really our antidiscrimination law is not set up that way. The key is the term “relevant population”. Would a business located in a mostly Latino city that hires mostly Anglos escape the label of discriminatory just because they compare themselves to the US population as a whole? No way!

If 78% of those illegally residing in the USA are of Latino origin does this not mean that to insure no discrimination exists 78% of those investigated for being illegally in the USA should be of Latino origin? That is the relevant population. Would not departing from that percentage be discriminatory to Black, Asian, and White Americans? Often, one person's injustice is another person's justice.

[magyart]

11:55 PM on 04/18/2012

The police do profile, based on conduct. Most people have no clue why they may be detained or questioned. Far too many people think they can do, just about anything. When the police stop them for "no tail light", they are stopped for conduct, but they will scream racial profiling.

[holyghostie]

07:40 PM on 04/18/2012

This is proper policing and this story is scant on facts. Of course someone who is doing something illegal is hesitant to have contact with the authorities....a police officer or ICE in the course of their duties has every right to see picture id, and ICE has the right to ask immigration status under Federal law.

Liberals want our borders undefended, and the police handcuffed. They feel like its the duty of the taxpayer to pay for ER/Maternity procedures for all illegals without the right to complain. Citizens should have to pay to educate and clothe the children of illegals, but the citizen should have NO RIGHT to Complain or put procedures in place to prevent the flow of more illegals.

Latinos should want to follow the same rules as everyone else, and not get over with special perks.

[dissentisgood]

07:22 PM on 04/18/2012

It's a pretty sad commentary when ordinary people have to be afraid just because of who they are. You anti immigrant folks are the embarrassment of the USA. Remember all you release into the world will come back to you

[BrokeInSoCal]

08:43 PM on 04/18/2012

Uh, what is wrong with being anti ILLEGAL immigrant? At what point in the future do taxpayers run out of money funding their healthcare and children?

[emanallstar53]

11:31 AM on 04/19/2012

I like how all you anti illegals always pose the argument that they are taking are tax dollars when they also contribute to taxes...also you guys complain about your tax dollars when you guys are getting screwed over by Governors, Senators and all politicians getting paid 6 digits when they do nothing to help our schools systems or health care. You thinking that every illegal is milking the system just shows how close minded you are. Some American Citizens milk the system or don't even pay taxes them selves how about that one? Immigrants have been helping this country grow weather you like it or not! So keep you uneducated comments to your self , its you closed mind Americans that make me so embarrassed to me american.

[Arkm00]

05:56 PM on 04/18/2012

Wow....they fear racial profiling.....Back in the 80s I was working in a factory that employed a bunch of illegals....One day the INS raided the place. I am of Italian ancestory...I had to produce the proper papers and I went to lunch and then home....Not so scary. Should I have screamed racial profiling?

[holyghostie]

07:41 PM on 04/18/2012

Exactly. I'm surprised the PC moderators let this comment stand.

[spytheweb]

05:20 PM on 04/18/2012

They don't fear Racial Profiling, they fear being found out that they are in the country illegally.

[Arkm00]

06:15 PM on 04/18/2012

Exactly.....kinda reminds me of the voter id issue......

[valgonza08]

02:20 PM on 04/19/2012

Maybe the illegals, but what about those who are Hispanics that were born in the US that are profiled as potential illegals just because of their appearance? Is it fair to us?

[spytheweb]

09:48 PM on 04/20/2012

Cry me a river, i'am black and believe in the law. Why should you be offended when stopped and questioned. Stop and question me, i got by papers right and don't break the law. Those who fear the law have something to hide.

[moonlightesq]

04:44 PM on 04/18/2012

Why are they afraid if they are legally here in the U.S. and do not cross the boarders into Canada???

I thought there are more Asian/European/Middle-East/African nationals crossing the U.S./Canadian borders than Latinos.

[BrokeInSoCal]

08:45 PM on 04/18/2012

lol, you should have written this article. I am confused as well.

[spytheweb]

09:50 PM on 04/20/2012

It's because many US citizens are also aiding illegal aliens who are friends or family members. They rather not be stopped or questioned at all.

[valgonza08]

01:20 PM on 04/18/2012

I have no problem with people who break the law getting detained and prosecuted. However assuming that someone might be an illegal based on appearance is just wrong. people can't jump to conclusions based on that because then you have a George Zimmerman mentality and that as we all know can be lethal.

[Arkm00]

06:17 PM on 04/18/2012

Read my post about being asked to produce ID to INS years ago......I am ethnically Italian with a dark complexion....

[Thanh M Van Doan]

12:21 PM on 04/18/2012

Criminal are always fearful of police. iLLegal alien are no difference than criminal who have broken the nation immigration laws.

[BrokeInSoCal]

11:56 AM on 04/18/2012

Illegals have made it way up to Washington state? My sympathies.

[montanason]

12:34 PM on 04/18/2012

You know, the problem with this kind of "thinking" is the obvious implication
that anyone having a dark complexion is illegal.
It's a bigger issue than that-and my sympathies for any nation when it
is tolerated and presented as patriotism.

[spytheweb]

05:25 PM on 04/18/2012

Illegal aliens think using E-Verifiy is racial Profiling. Any traffic stop is racial profiling, DUI check points are racial profiling. Any means that questions their immigration status is racial profiling.

[Arkm00]

06:18 PM on 04/18/2012

So you whip out your ID and off you go.

[brucerodney]

01:11 PM on 04/18/2012

No need. Up here in WA, we respect that the Constitution provides equal protections to all residents.

[omobob]

10:43 AM on 04/18/2012

Painting a target of suspicion on the back of legal Hispanic and Arab US citizens is in defiance of equal protection under the law (14th. amendment). legal Hispanic and Arab US citizens are subjected to the indignity of having to defend their citizenship. I have Hispanic friends who where stopped and detained with their two children because the Arizona police said their car was so nice they looked like drug dealers. His is a construction Contractor and She is an RN and are US citizens. They were detained for 5 hours. This is wrong and un Constitutional.

[brucerodney]

01:13 PM on 04/18/2012

Agree! Same problems up here in WA. Teenage Latino U.S. citizens getting pulled over for not signaling and then surrounded by 7 Border Patrol cars and grilled for their papers. How does this make us safer?

[omobob]

06:55 PM on 04/18/2012

> Teenage Latino U.S. citizens getting pulled over for not signaling and then surrounded by 7 Border Patrol cars and grilled for their papers.

This is exactly the problem. raciaL PROFILING OF legal US citizens who are stopped because of the color of their skin. Well observed. faved.cheers

[spytheweb]

10:04 PM on 04/20/2012

This is illegal and legal Hispanics:

"Hispanics already outnumber all other ethnic groups sentenced to serve time in prison for federal felonies.
Hispanics reached a new milestone for the first time this year, making up the majority all federal felony offenders sentenced in the first nine months of fiscal year 2011, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Hispanics comprised 50.3 percent of all people sentenced in that time period, blacks 19.7 percent and whites 26.4 percent.
In comparison, last year Hispanics made up just 16 percent of the whole U.S. population."

http://racismdaily.com/2011/09/07/feds-more-hispanics-go-to-federal-prison-over-felonies/

[magyart]

12:02 AM on 04/19/2012

I bet they didn't have proper identification ? The police may detain almost anyone for 5 hours, especially if they don't have a driver's license. Sometimes it takes 4-5 hours to get a reply from ICE. Fortunately, the Secure Communities Initiative is speeding up the process.

[omobob]

01:12 AM on 04/19/2012

> I bet they didn't have proper identification?

You bet wrong. If you read the post the Arizona police man said their car was so nice ( Ford SUV) they looked like drug dealers. These US citizens were illegally profiled and harassed for 5 hours. Despicable and un constitutional (equal protection under the law. The 14th. Amendment.)

[freedom1947]

10:39 AM on 04/18/2012

Canadians sneaking accross?

[spytheweb]

05:28 PM on 04/18/2012

Illegal Canadians and Europeans are 6% of the illegal. Mexicans are 62%.

[Michael Kogut]

06:08 AM on 04/19/2012

Then who are the other 32%?

[freedom1947]

11:06 AM on 04/19/2012

I guess it's alright then, after all they are white.

[wojoman2]

10:27 AM on 04/18/2012

Are we being racially profiled for racially profiling?