Following in the footsteps of previous District mayors, Vince Gray signed an executive order declaring that D.C. police won’t collect or share information about the legal status of immigrant arrestees with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reports the Post:

Under the new guidelines, which Gray signed while surrounded by Hispanic and African immigrants, D.C. police and corrections officials will not ask those they come in contact with about their immigration status. District police also will not enforce an ICE detainer or warrant issued against someone who has not committed another crime.

Police and jail officials are forbidden from contacting ICE to have the agency investigate the legal status of someone who has been arrested.

Of course, this doesn’t mean the FBI—-which receives fingerprints when major crimes are committed—-won’t forward them to ICE, which can still deport undocumented immigrants under its “Secure Communities” program.

Photo by stevendepolo via Flickr/Creative Commons Attribution Generic 2.0 License