Between a Rock and Hard Place

Two events this past week point up how San Diego’s location on the Mexican border makes law enforcement here different from that in other major cities.

First, U.S. Atty. Peter Nunez said that he may reduce the number of felony complaints his office files against those who smuggle aliens into the country. Nunez was acting out of a realization that at least some of the resources going into the smuggling prosecutions could be used more effectively elsewhere.

Then, the San Diego Police Department reported that a monthlong survey of people arrested on suspicion of auto theft and residential burglaries found 20% to be illegal aliens. Many of those arrested were people who live in Mexico and cross the border illegally to spend a day committing crimes.

At first glance, the police statistics might make Nunez’s decision appear to be a mistake.

But, especially until the federal government develops a true policy on immigration, Nunez is correct to redeploy some of his prosecutors from immigration cases and put them on cases where prosecution seems to have more impact.