Sheriff: Databases A Problem With Illegal Immigrant Cases

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 - 03:52 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A father and son from Clayton were laid to rest together on Thursday.

Funerals for Jerry Braswell and his son, Jerry Jr., were held at a church in Garner Thursday afternoon.

The Braswells were killed Sunday in a fiery crash that police say was caused by Luciano Tellez, an unlicensed, illegal immigrant with prior DWI convictions.

Tellez is being held on $3 million bond and now authorities are considering deporting him.

NBC17 looked into why authorities have trouble dealing with illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

Local law enforcement officials tell NBC17 the reality is illegal immigration is a federal issue.

But the family of Jerry Braswell is outraged that a father and son lost their lives because of what could be summed up to government red tape.

Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison says housing illegal immigrants in the county jail is costing you big bucks.

"Year before last it cost us $2 million just to house. That's not counting medical costs, or anything," Harrison said.

Taxpayers in Johnston County are now paying to house illegal immigrant Luciano Tellez.

He's no stranger to the U.S. legal system, having been arrested two times in Wake County for DWI.

Harrison says his agency does not have access to the federal database to see who's here legally and who's not.

Tellez is accused of slamming his car into Jerry Braswell's semi rig Sunday night in Johnston County.

Braswell and his 9-year-old son, Jerry Jr., died at the scene.

Harrison provides a list of suspected illegal immigrants to federal officials on a regular basis.

But the sheriff says the federal officials rarely do anything about it.
NBC17 made repeated calls to the local immigrations and customs office but those calls were not returned.

In the past, the agency has said it's strapped for resources and tries to focus its deportation efforts on violent criminals or people who pose national security threats.

http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn...3-08-0007.html