Community dismayed over police board’s rejection of ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy

Community dismayed over police board’s rejection of ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy

TORONTO — In a report dated October 9th, 2008, Alok Mukherjee, the Chair of the
Toronto Police Services Board, recommends that Toronto police continue to
report victims and witnesses of crimes without immigration status to
federal immigration officials. This recommendation is in response to a 53
page legal opinion by the Immigration Legal Committee (a joint project of
immigrant rights group No One Is Illegal Toronto and the Law Union of
Ontario), which recommends that Toronto police follow the lead of 32
American jurisdictions and adopt a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy” with
regards to immigration status of victims and witnesses of crimes.

Mr. Mukherjee’s report does not provide any legal basis for his
recommendation, instead indicating that the recommendation is being made
after “discussions” with Chief Bill Blair.

Anna Rosenbluth, a member of the Immigration Legal Committee, states that
“The Immigration Legal Committee is dismayed by the recommendation that
the TPSB continue to deny safe access to police for persons without
immigration status. This recommendation flies in the face of the legal
research before the TPSB and it is made without providing any legal basis
for the conclusion. We remain very concerned for the safety of
Torontonians without immigration status who will be unable to access
police protection from violence if this recommendation is accepted.”

A “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy would mean that police do not ask for
immigration status and should they discover a person without status they
will not tell federal immigration authorities.

Mr. Mukherjee’s report further recommends that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
working group established by the Toronto Police Services Board be
disbanded on the basis that its mandate is “concluded”. On May 22, 2007
the Toronto Police Services Board approved a motion that the working
group, in consultation with the community, would conduct a review of the
feasibility of including a “Don’t Tell” component. To date, community
groups advocating for a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy have not been
contacted by the working group for consultation on this issue.

Mohan Mishra of No One Is Illegal had this reaction to the Board’s report:
“This is terrible, Toronto Police are already distrusted by immigrant
communities of colour in this city, this report will just add to the anger
and distrust in those communities. Already women in those communities who
are assaulted cannot call the police, this will make it even harder. I can
promise the Board that we will re-double our work to fight for a full
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, they have not heard the last of us.”

Members of the community will be attending the Toronto Police Services
Board meeting on Thursday November 20th at 1:30pm at 40 College Street
(2nd Floor Auditorium) to make their anger and dismay heard. We invite
members of the media to attend.

PRESS RELEASE, Nov. 18, 2008