Thread: Slain Omahan's relative says immigration crackdown might have prevented her death

Slain Omahan's relative says immigration crackdown might have prevented her death
POSTED: SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2014 1:00 AM
By Kirby Kaufman / World-Herald News Service

COUNCIL BLUFFS — A relative of an elderly Omaha woman who was raped and killed last year said Saturday that the brutal crime may have been prevented if the United States strictly enforced immigration laws.

“What we’d like to have is the federal government to secure our borders,” said Bill Hartzell, 60, of Council Bluffs. “There’s a chance my grandmother would be still alive if our borders were secured.”

Hartzell is the husband of Teresa Hartzell, a granddaughter of 93-year-old Louise Sollowin. Sollowin died three days after Sergio Martinez- Perez, a Mexico native in the U.S. illegally, broke into her South Omaha home, beat her and sexually assaulted her. Nineteen at the time of the attack, he was sentenced to life in prison. The attack occurred one year ago today.

About 70 people, mostly proponents of strict immigration laws, gathered Saturday at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs to discuss immigration reform and a memorial scholarship fund created in Sollowin’s name at St. Cecilia School in Omaha.

“We have people coming across our southern border illegally,” Bill Hartzell said. “We’re not against immigration.”

Sollowin was an immigrant who moved from Italy to the United States. She spent 60 years helping her sister, Frances Orsi, at Orsi’s Italian Bakery in Omaha. Her late husband, Joe Sollowin, did the books for the family business.

“She certainly had more life to live and more love to give,” said Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh, who spoke at the event. “That life was taken from her by inexplicable evil.”

Martinez-Perez pleaded guilty April 9 to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped their pursuit of the death penalty.

Martinez-Perez said he had spent the night partying and drinking and became “mad at women” because he had been rejected by a couple of women at a party. That anger apparently led to the random breakin, beating and sexual assault.

Other event speakers Saturday included State Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa, R-Council Bluffs, and U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.

“We have immigration laws on the books that need to be enforced,” Hanusa said. “Our borders should be made secure. We need to follow the law.”

King criticized presidential leadership and discussed a resolution he introduced Thursday in Congress that calls for southern border governors to deploy National Guard troops to prevent illegal immigration.

“It rips our hearts out to know how the Sollowin family has suffered and to think that the suffering here in this community has multiplied over and over again,” King said. “This suffering is one of thousands and thousands of cases across America that we have endured for more than a decade, and still their hearts are cold, and still the leadership in this country doesn’t listen.”

http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/slai...36a9740b0.html

It makes me sick knowing the government continues to allow illegal immigration even though illegals are killing and raping our people.

I am pissed off now! At least King in is remarks said "....have endured for MORE (my emphasis) than a decade." However it does indicate he is not up to speed, it has been going on since Nov. 7, 1986 and a politician that do not get his facts in order, is just that , just a politician! However, I emphasize again, professional politicians are that, professionals interested in their political future, not the overall good of the nation! I might have supported this guy for President, if so, it is withdrawn!

His remarks indicate that he probably is not going to support deportation of aliens that arrived in the eighties and nineties, that is a shame, as it will indicate that if you can get away with hiding in the shadows, eventually they will legalize you. That encourages more aliens to come, and encourages employers to hire them. This statement now being made must demand unconditional surrender from the alien side! TOTAL DEPORTATION OF ALIENS IS THE ONLY WAY OF PUTTING THIS AWAY FOR A FEW GENERATIONS!