New Immigration Crackdowns Creating Huge Effect on Crime Reporting

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today before you.

Ever since I was a young boy, I have been fascinated by peoples behaviors. Ive
thought long and hard about what it takes for a society to create law and maintain
order, and Ive always believed that its important to serve justice but not on ones
own, rather to serve it under the law.

The foundation of any relationship must include four qualities:

Trust
Respect
Honesty, and
Communication

If one of these qualities is missing, its like building a house without cement, sand,
or water. So its very important for the citizens of this great city of Rockville
documented or undocumentedto be trusting, respectful and honest about their
issues, and most of all, be able to communicate with all city government
departments, officials, employees, officers and agents without fear of being
detained or even deported.

This kind of communicationcommunication without fear of negative personal

consequencesis vital to the safety of our communities. That is why my
organization, the Multicultural Workers Forum, which is located in Rockville,
supports the Fostering Community Trust ordinance introduced by Council
member Julie Palakovich Carr. As Ms. Carr has noted, It is impossible to build a
strong community in an environment of fear and distrust.

Let me explain what fear has done to crime reporting nationwide, for example.
Police departments across the country have indicated that increased fear due to
increased immigration enforcement actions and anti-immigrant rhetoric have led to
decreases in crime reporting, including sexual assault, in immigrant communities.
This ordinance is an important first step in keeping all members of our community,
including undocumented immigrants safe.
Thank you for your time and effort in signing this in to law of this great city.