"Jamiel's Law" Could Make Spring Ballot

LOS ANGELES (CBS)  -- Supporters of "Jamiel's Law" succeeded in gathering more than 76,000 signatures in a last minute push, making the initiative eligible for the city ballot next spring if enough of those signatures prove valid.

The family of Jamiel Shaw, a 17-year-old Los Angeles High School football player killed in March by an illegal immigrant, turned in the signed petitions to the City Clerk's Office just before this weekend's deadline.

The standout athlete was allegedly killed by a 19-year-old gang member in the country illegally. The initiative gives Los Angeles police officers the right to arrest undocumented gang members before they commit crimes.

Valid signatures of 73,963 Los Angeles registered voters are needed to qualify the measure for the May ballot.

It will take the city clerk's office several days to verify the signatures. The number of signatures submitted provides a cushion for error that is less than experts say is usually needed for a measure to qualify for the ballot.

The text of Jamiel's Law says the police department should develop a policy to "identify, arrest, deport and/or prosecute and imprison gang members who are in the country illegally, without waiting to catch them committing murders or other crimes before enforcing the immigration laws against them."

Since 1979, the Los Angeles Police Department has operated under Special Order 40, which prevents officers from initiating contact with suspects for the sole purpose of inquiring about their immigration status. The policy was implemented so undocumented residents could report crimes and cooperate with police without fear of being deported.

Jamiel's Law author Walter Moore says the difference between Jamiel's Law and Special Order 40 is whether action is taken before or after a crime has been committed.

The LAPD and American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California both support Special Order 40. At a hearing convened by the Public Safety Committee in October, ACLU attorney Peter Bibring testified that Special Order 40 is needed to keep immigrant communities engaged with police.