At the Martin Luther King Center, black leaders around the state called for immigration reform Tuesday.

The forum featured the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, also known as NOBLE.

They called for federal action on immigration reform. Representatives from NOBLE failed, however, to specify what exactly that reform would entail.

The forum also included Congressman Henry "Hank" Johnson, who said undcocumented Latinos fear calling the police for help.

"There are rapes, robberies, spousal abuses, especially within the Latino community.

Johnson also says he opposes putting a fence on the border with Mexico. Representatives from NOBLE did not take a position on the border fence.

The forum comes as the national Republican party looks to make immigration a central issue in the 2010 congressional elections.

Tags: law enforcement, black leaders, NOBLE, immigration reform