Thread: After killings, immigration suddenly becomes New Jersey focu

After killings, immigration suddenly becomes New Jersey focus

By TOM HESTER Jr. | Associated Press Writer
9:37 AM EDT, August 26, 2007

TRENTON, N.J. - With Congress fumbling immigration reform, state legislators have stepped in to pick up the ball.

Lawmakers in 41 states have enacted 170 immigration bills this year, more than double the number enacted in 2006, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"Congress' failure to enact comprehensive immigration reform has really forced the states' hands," said Leticia Van de Putte, a Democratic Texas senator and the NCSL president.

New Jersey _ where legislators have been more concerned about America's highest property taxes and the possibility Gov. Jon S. Corzine may increase highway tolls to solve state fiscal woes _ was one of the states that hadn't approved immigration-related legislation.

That was before the Aug. 4 execution-style shooting murders of three college students in a Newark schoolyard pushed immigration issues to the forefront in the Garden State.

Six suspects have been arrested in the shootings that sparked outrage in New Jersey's largest city. One of them, 28-year-old Jose Carranza, is an illegal Peruvian immigrant who had been previously arrested on assault and weapons charges and again on child rape charges.

Carranza got out on bail each time and officials said they never checked his immigration status, though federal officials said they would have detained Carranza had they been notified.

Now Democrats and Republicans alike are proposing legislation, but quick action is unlikely.

The Legislature adjourned on June 21 and isn't expected to return until after November's election, when all 120 legislative seats will be decided. Democrats control the Assembly 50-30 and the Senate 22-18.

"It will more than likely be after November," said Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer.

Watson Coleman said lawmakers will think proposals through before acting.

"This is not a knee-jerk response," Watson Coleman said.

The only major action in New Jersey came via an executive order signed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Aug. 6 _ after the murders, but before Carranza was arrested _ that created a 27-member panel that will have 15 months to recommend how best to help immigrants with education, citizenship, civil rights, housing, health care, language and job issues.

Once Carranza's status became known, Attorney General Anne Milgram on Wednesday ordered law enforcement to notify federal immigration officials when an illegal immigrant is arrested for an indictable offense or drunken driving, but since the killings:

_ Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer, proposed requiring illegal immigrants to post full cash bail.

"When illegals commit crimes, they should be taken off our streets," Turner said.

_ Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, R-Union, proposed requiring county prosecutors to notify federal authorities when an illegal alien is charged.

"It is a very basic concept that when a local law enforcement official is aware that an individual in their custody has violated a federal law, that they should notify the federal authorities," Bramnick said.

_ Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, proposed requiring law enforcement to notify federal officials when an illegal alien is arrested for a felony.

"If the tragedies that recently occurred in Newark have taught us anything, it's that the current system is flawed," Sarlo said.

_ Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris said he will amend legislation he introduced in June 2006 prohibiting jails from releasing illegal aliens. He said he wants to revise the bill so it covers any arrested illegal alien.

"But I seriously doubt that the Democrats currently in charge of the state government in Trenton will take any action to correct the problem," Merkt said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ ... 0595.story

New Jersey Legislature: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/

Hopefully citizens will elect a new legislature who will clamp down on Illegal immigration.

I am not sure why but these murders have angered me more then any other illegal immigrant crime................. and I Do Not believe the authorities have disclosed the full brutality of these crimes.......

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After these horrible murders to American citizens by illegal immigrants you'd think Gov. Jon S. Corzine would look towards law enforcement instead of raising the tolls to cover the expense of illegal immigrants in the state. What other tax increases does he have planned to help foreign national criminals?

At least someone who is the law official of the state has sense. Attorney General Anne Migram wants to notify ice and the federal immigration officials when an illegal immigrant is arrested for an indictable offense.

If more people back common sense; they can send these criminals packing back to their countries before they destroy more innocent life's. Hopefully the outcry by the people of the state will be heard and not the illegals or their supporters; who if it where their child raped or their college kid killed I think they would see it differently. Does tragedy have to hit Gov. Corzine or his immediate family for him to realize the obvious.

Obviously some on both sides of the aisle are waking up; lets hope its not going to be too late as another life may be lost or destroyed.

Corzine was sooooh emotional over his near death experience while driving without a seat belt...He was sooh sorry ... BUT he seems a little too insensitive to the brutal rapes and murders that have just occured. No weeping of crocodile tears for these poor kids! And we all know he is so very politically correct???