Sheriff Baca to Discuss Immigration at White House

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca on Wednesday will join a group of law enforcement officials at the White House to discuss immigration and border issues affecting local police forces.

Baca will be joining senior law enforcement officials from the National Sheriffs Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police and former Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton.

They will share their successes and challenges with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West and Director of White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muñoz.

"We need help in Washington so that we can focus on catching criminals, rather than sacrificing priorities to play the role of immigration agent,” said Baca. “Immigration reform will strengthen security in communities across the country.”

Last Monday, a bipartisan group of senators released a framework for broad immigration reform including a conditional path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, reforms to the legal immigration system based upon the needs of the economy, creation of an employment verification system, and an improved process for admitting future workers.

“It’s important for the public to trust their local law enforcement and to be able to call on them when needed,” said Sheriff Baca. “That relationship is compromised when otherwise law-abiding people are afraid of deportation.”