In the wake of state legislation seeking to protect immigrants from overzealous federal crackdowns, a Honolulu charter amendment proposal with similar goals is inching forward at the city’s charter commission.
It is intended to shape Honolulu Police Department policy with three broad aims: to protect immigrants from people impersonating law enforcement officers; to safeguard immigrants’ access to places such as courts, hospitals and schools; and to require HPD to verify the identity of agents and their legal basis for immigration enforcement operations before assisting them.
The proposal — P045 — left some of its specifics vague for now so that it can be wordsmithed for maximum effect, said Jess Moore of Honolulu, who submitted it…