A talk with the most aggressively pro-immigrant candidate in the race.
No Democratic presidential candidate has laid out as detailed an immigration plan as Martin O'Malley.
The former Maryland governor has pledged to take executive action to shield from deportation roughly 11 million immigrants in the country illegally, and he has vowed to restrict collaboration between local jails and federal immigration agents.
His proposals have won him praise from immigrant advocates -- but not a wide base of support. O'Malley continues to trail far behind former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
O'Malley was in Los Angeles on Friday for some fundraising and campaign events. We talked to him about his immigration proposals and his place in the race. . .
LAT: You've pledged to end 287(g) agreements, which place U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents inside local jails. You've also said that ICE should have to obtain warrants from a judge before local jails detain immigrant inmates for the agency. Do you believe criminals in the country illegally should be deported? If so, how do you do that without these protocols that ICE has said are necessary?
O'Malley: I think we need to disentangle local law enforcement and immigration work. That's not to say that ICE can't be providing warrants that meet constitutional muster. But we want people to be willing to come forward to local law enforcement, especially in the instance of domestic violence and robbery and other crimes.
LAT: Sanctuary cities, which refuse cooperation with ICE, have been in the news since the San Francisco killing of Kathryn Steinle, allegedly by an immigrant in the country illegally who had been released from local jail custody. Do you feel cities like San Francisco should have the right to say they're not going to cooperate with ICE on any level unless it provides a judicial warrant?
O'Malley: Yes. I think we should want all of our cities to become more compassionate places, frankly.
LAT: Given these proposals, which please many immigrant advocates, why are you not doing better with Latino voters?
O'Malley: Because I'm unknown right now. But all that is about to change. Our first debate is Oct. 13 in Nevada. So people will start to see that there are more than two candidates running for president from the Democratic Party.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-09252015-htmlstory.html?update=84519919
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