Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Justine Rellosa - Talk Radio News Service

Following a meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder, police chiefs from several Western states held a press conference to discuss concerns regarding Arizona's controversial immigration law.

"Mandating that we now determine citizenship or immigration status ... will severely strain our resources," Tuscon Chief of Police Roberto Villasenor said. "We doubt the federal government can even handle the numbers of people that we will bring to them now for verification on immigration status."

The Arizona legislation grants law enforcement officials the authority to question individuals suspected of being in the country illegally, a provision that the police chiefs warned could make people less likely to turn the police for assistance.

"Laws like this will actually increase crime, not decrease crime ... they break down the trust that we have been building for decades," Los Angeles Chief of Police Charlie Beck emphasized.

Villasenor stressed that the Arizona law could also be dangerous for the police, since it will force officers to be put in confrontational situations.