Tucson city leaders have delayed a program that puts police officers in high schools and middle schools over concerns that officers will ask students about their immigration status as required by SB 1070, Arizona’s immigration-enforcement law.
A state grant would place nine officers at seven high schools and two middle schools.
But concerns that police would ask for a student’s immigration status led to a debate last week when city council members were set to sign off on the contracts with the school district.
One council member asked that a clause be put in the contract prohibiting police from asking students about their status. But that would force officers to break the law, said Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor, a vocal opponent of the law who nonetheless says he will uphold it.
