Thread: Illegal immigrant charged in drunk driving crash raises questions about immigration p

Illegal immigrant charged in drunk driving crash raises questions about immigration policy

BY CARLET CLEARE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28TH 2015


Efrain Lopez-Contreras VIDEO REPORT AT LINK

Clarkson, N.Y. - The accusations against an illegal immigrant suspected in a drunken driving crash are raising some questions about immigration policies.

Gates Town Supervisor and Congressional candidate Mark Assini is expressing outrage over the fact that this man had been deported before, and was back in western New York.

Assini says there are a number of cases in our area involving illegal immigrants who have been arrested with prior criminal convictions.

He also has questions: Who was housing Efrain Lopez-Contreras? Where was he employed and how did he get a vehicle? Why was he deported previously?

"There's no doubt that, right now we have porous borders," Assini said. "Our federal government is inept in protecting us from people invading our country.

"Until those borders are protected, these types of tragedies are going to continue to occur and they need to stop. We have to identify how this is happening. We can't continue to allow dangerous criminals to continue to come back into the United States," he added.
Assini said the two-car crash along Redman Road on Christmas Eve was not an isolated incident, but an example that more work needs to be done by the federal government to protect U.S. borders.

Police said the previously-deported Lopez-Contreras was drunk when he allegedly veered into the southbound lane, smashing into another car, seriously injuring a pastor and his daughter.

13WHAM also spoke with the director of Greater Rochester Coalition for Immigration Justice. He said incidents like these might lead to a stigma when it comes to migrant workers.

"To use his legal status to expound on an entire population of people is just incorrect," said John Ghertner.

13WHAM reached out to Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's office for comment as well. That request has yet to be returned.

The two people hurt in the Redman Road crash, Pastor Tony Bartolucci and his 14-year old daughter Gianna, remain in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital. A prayer gathering hosted by members of the Amadeus Chorale is set to support the teen on Tuesday evening. Gianna has been singing with the group for seven years.

The plans for the event include making prayer bead bracelets and signing a large board to take to Gianna in the hospital. There'll also be a donation basket to help the family.

"We're hoping that we can collectively show support by praying together, singer together," said Darla Bair, the artistic director of Amadeus Chorale. "Also allowing her friends the singers she's been with for 7 years to come together with each other and have to understand what they can do to help in the future because children and teens often find disturbing news difficult because they don't have the skills to deal with it."

The prayer service will be held at the Brockport United Methodist Church beginning at 7 p.m.

http://13wham.com/news/top-stories/i...gration-policy

Police: Father, Daughter Rescued From Flaming Car After Drunk Driving Crash


Published on Dec 27, 2015
CLARKSON, N.Y. – A teenage girl and her father remain in guarded condition this morning at Strong Memorial Hospital after deputies say their car was struck by a drunk driver in Clarkson on Christmas Eve.

The suspect, 29-year-old Efrain Lopez-Contreras, is being charged with vehicular assault and DWI.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies say he’s an undocumented immigrant who had been previously deported.

They say Lopez-Contreras was driving drunk when he crossed the center line on Redman Road near West Ridge Road. His car struck a vehicle driven by 52-yearold Tony Bartolucci. His 14-year-old daughter Gianna was a passenger.

Their car burst into flames and the two were pulled from the wreck by witnesses.

Those witnesses told deputies that Lopez-Contreras ran from the scene of the crash. He was later found by deputies hiding in a ditch.

He is being held on $100,000 bail.

Immigration and Naturalization Service officials will also place a detainer on him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Pls837dGg

Clarkson, N.Y. - The accusations against an illegal immigrant suspected in a drunken driving crash are raising some questions about immigration policies.

Gates Town Supervisor and Congressional candidate Mark Assini is expressing outrage over the fact that this man had been deported before, and was back in western New York.

Assini says there are a number of cases in our area involving illegal immigrants who have been arrested with prior criminal convictions.
He also has questions: Who was housing Efrain Lopez-Contreras? Where was he employed and how did he get a vehicle? Why was he deported previously?

"There's no doubt that, right now we have porous borders," Assini said. "Our federal government is inept in protecting us from people invading our country.

"Until those borders are protected, these types of tragedies are going to continue to occur and they need to stop. We have to identify how this is happening. We can't continue to allow dangerous criminals to continue to come back into the United States," he added.

Assini said the two-car crash along Redman Road on Christmas Eve was not an isolated incident, but an example that more work needs to be done by the federal government to protect U.S. borders.

Police said the previously-deported Lopez-Contreras was drunk when he allegedly veered into the southbound lane, smashing into another car, seriously injuring a pastor and his daughter.

New York state has over 16 sanctuary cities.