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Police chiefs in the two largest Sun Chronicle communities say their departments have not detained undocumented immigrants for federal authorities unless they have committed crimes.

We havent had an issue, North Attleboro Police Chief John Reilly said.

Reilly said he knows of no other chief that has made it a policy of detaining undocumented immigrants solely on the wishes of federal immigration authorities.

About six months ago, Reilly said he met with officials of the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and assured them his department had no policy of detaining undocumented immigrants who have not been charged with crimes.

The police department has arrested suspects for drug distribution and other serious crimes who are later found to be wanted by federal authorities, he said.

But not solely for immigration issues, according to the police chief.

Similarly, Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney said the recent decision by the state Supreme Judicial Court preventing police from detaining people suspected of being in the country illegally will have no drastic effect on his department.

Heagney said police do notify the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement when the suspects are sex offenders, have committed a violent felony or are gang members or suspected terrorists.

Our policy is that unless an illegal alien is in one of those four categories, Heagney said, we will not take any overt action.

He added, I think it is safe to say that no community would want one of the four category persons within their community as a legal citizen or not.

Some have called for changes in the law to allow local police to act on behalf of federal agencies to help apprehend people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

For instance, Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is lobbying to change the law.

In addition, the head of the Boston field office of ICE said the SJC ruling puts communities at risk.

The ruling said police officers in the state do not have the power to arrest someone not facing criminal charges, even if federal authorities have requested their detention.

C.M. Cronen, the ICE Boston field office director, said in a statement this ruling weakens local law enforcement agencies ability to protect their communities.

He says ICE is reviewing the decision to determine its next steps.

The decision came in the case of Sreynuon Lunn, who was detained by court officers in February even though criminal charges against him had been dismissed.

David Linton may be reached at 508-236-0338.

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Attleboro area police chiefs say high court ruling on detaining illegal immigrants not an issue - The Sun Chronicle