Anaheim Gang Raid by Police, INS Nets 7

Hoping to end mounting gang violence in Anaheim, a task force of local police and immigration officials arrested seven alleged gang members Thursday during an early-morning raid.

Anaheim detectives asked the Immigration and Naturalization Service to help after determining that four of the suspects had been deported for other crimes but reentered the country illegally, police officials said.

The raid was part of an investigation into two shootings that left at least two gang members wounded in the last month as tensions have flared between local gangs.

“The violence has been escalating, and we wanted to stem the tide,” Anaheim Police Sgt. Mike Hidalgo said.

Anaheim police officials have drawn fire in the past for allowing INS officials to question suspects detained in the city’s jail about their citizenship or legal status. But police officials said their cooperation in Thursday’s raid was different.

“INS was dealing with violent and dangerous offenders that need to be gotten off the streets,” Anaheim Police Sgt. Rick Martinez said. “They’re not out there asking people about their resident status.”

But immigration-rights activists, while applauding the crackdown on gang violence, criticized the Police Department’s decision to work alongside the INS, saying such ties foster mistrust of police among the city’s immigrants.

“Honorable residents will hesitate to call and report crimes because they see the Anaheim Police Department is fully partnering with the INS,” said Amin David, president of Los Amigos of Orange County.

Five of the men arrested will probably be deported, police said. A sixth man was arrested on suspicion of drug possession, and a 16-year-old boy was detained for a probation violation, police said.