DHS instructs local police to focus on serious crimes, not minor ones.

Local police agencies empowered by the federal government to enforce immigration law must focus their efforts on criminals who pose a threat to public safety, with less emphasis on those who commit minor crimes, Department of Homeland Security officials announced Friday.

The announcement aims to clarify a controversial program that deputizes police to turn over suspects or criminals to immigration authorities for possible deportation. Normally police do not enforce federal law.

The law, known as 287(g), took effect in 1996.

(...)

They also must agree to pursue the criminal charges that prompted an illegal immigrant's detention. In other words, police can't make an arrest just to find out if someone is in the country illegally.

(plenty more at the link)

<--[i>Los Angeles Times