New NLC Report: Public Safety Programs in the Immigrant Community

A number of police departments in this region and across the U.S. function via a framework of community policing and rely on trust and partnership between police and local residents, including those from the immigrant communities. In order for this process to work properly, the police need to remain aware of problems within the community, and this knowledge is dependent on resident crime reporting and witness testifying. It is important that all residents, including immigrant populations (who are often more vulnerable to crime), feel secure in interacting with the police and coming to the police department for help.

Unfortunately, several barriers separate immigrant communities from local police departments, hindering relationship building and effective community policing. Miscommunication occurs due to language barriers and cultural differences over police customs, cultural norms, or gender roles.

Many immigrants also fear the police, either due to imported expectations from their home country or from deportation concerns and the confusion surrounding local law enforcements’ role in federal immigration enforcement.

To overcome these barriers, several police departments across the country are implementing innovative programs to reach out and expand public safety to their local immigrant populations. Increased communication between police and immigrant communities improves policing and public safety for the entire community.

To highlight these programs, The National League of Cities “Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration” program recently released its third report in the Municipal Innovations in Immigrant Integration Series: Public Safety Programs for the Immigrant Community. 

This new publication is designed to address the role of cities in immigrant public safety and is designed to give cities and towns a starting place to plan and improve their public safety outreach programs toward their local immigrant population.

The report highlights good practices from 17 U.S police departments (including Chelsea and Lowell, MA and New Haven, CT ) and includes recommendations for developing immigrant public safety programs in other communities.

To access this NLC report, please visit:

NLC: Public Safety Programs for the Immigrant Community (2011)