The mayor of Philadelphia has signed an executive order limiting the police department's cooperation with federal immigration officials.
Mayor Michael Nutter said Wednesday that the order effectively ends Philadelphia's compliance with federal requests to prolong the detention of immigrants charged with minor crimes, who otherwise would be released pending trial.
Detainer requests by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement _ known as ICE holds _ were instituted to enhance the agency's ability to apprehend dangerous criminals living illegally in the U.S.
Nutter said that in reality, people end up in deportation proceedings after minor infractions.
Immigration advocates also saidthat fear of ICE holds kept many in the immigrant community from reporting crime and cooperating with police.
Opponents of the change say it will make the city less safe.
