PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix has created a mechanism for residents to log complaints of potential misconduct involving federal law enforcement officers.
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Titled as the “Federal Enforcement Complaint Reporting Portal,” the online tool is intended to file concerns involving Homeland Security Investigations, border patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
City officials claim the portal was created in response to community concerns about the presence of federal agents in Phoenix neighborhoods and is intended for residents to submit videos and photographs of “potentially unlawful activity.”
The city describes “unlawful activity” as incidents involving excessive force, unlawful searches, wrongful detentions, or interfering with voting.
“Community members who believe federal agents may have acted outside the law or violated civil rights can submit complaints, concerns, or documentation in multiple languages,” city officials wrote in a statement.
The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts seen across the country over the last year have prompted officials in Phoenix to make declarations that distance the city from the federal operations.
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Back in January, the Phoenix Police Department emphasized that its officers don’t enforce immigration laws, but they also cannot interrupt an ICE operation.
Submissions made to the new portal will be reviewed by the police department to determine if further investigation is warranted.
“Police may forward complaints to the appropriate agency for criminal charges and/or share concerns with the relevant federal agency with a request for further investigation,” city officials said.
All reports made with the portal will be preserved and shared with the attorney general’s office for their review, city officials said.
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