Scottsboro detains illegal immigrant

Posted: Thursday, October 6, 2011 3:58 pm | Updated: 5:05 pm, Thu Oct 6, 2011.

By DeWayne Patterson


Alabama's new immigration law made its way to Scottsboro Tuesday evening.

Police chief Ralph Dawe said an accident in the 24600 block of John T. Reid Parkway brought officers in contact with a Hispanic female.

"She didn't have the proper identification which led us to believe she could be an illegal immigrant," said Dawe. "We followed the law."

Officers detained Maria Del Carmen Peralta, 20 who was residing in Scottsboro.

During the investigation, Dawe said Peralta confessed to being in the country illegally.

Under the new law, authorities can detain a person up to 24 hours to confirm their legality in the country.

Dawe said his department received confirmation Wednesday from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Peralta was in the country illegally.

"We were advised by ICE to hold her, and they will come pick her up to be deported," said Dawe.

According to Dawe, Peralta was deported from the country once before, in November 2003.

Even though she admitted her illegal status Tuesday to authorities, Dawe said, under the law, only ICE can confirm or deny a person's legal or illegal status.

"According to the law, the immigration status shall be determined solely by the federal government," said Dawe.

A federal judge recently upheld most of the sections of the state's immigration law, passed earlier this year, that had been challenged by the Obama administration, including portions that had been blocked in other states.

Once Peralta's status was confirmed, she was charged with failure to complete/carry registeration documentation.

Dawe said once she is picked up by ICE, Peralta will be released of the charge on time served.

She was still in the Scottsboro City Jail Thursday morning.

Dawe said, while he believes the new law is a good law, it's still a very complicated law.

"Everybody is on a learning curve," said Dawe. "This department is attending every class, meeting and seminar regarding this law."

Dawe said the police department's job, under the law, is not to go out and round up illegal immigrants.

"It's only if we stop someone or in the course of our duties such as accidents or crimes," said Dawe. "And a reasonable suspicion exists that the person is in the country illegally."

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