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Both drunk drivers in weekend fatal accidents illegal immigrants

Many believe federal government needs to address immigration



Justin Williams
FOX6 Reporter
5:06 p.m. CDT, April 26, 2011

WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE—
Those two crashes have some in southeastern Wisconsin focusing on the immigration status of the drivers of the vehicles accused of causing the crashes. FOX6 has learned that both drivers are living in the United States illegally.

The first accident involves two fatalities, and took place early Sunday morning near 12th and Rogers St. on Milwaukee's south side. Milwaukee police say they've arrested an 18-year-old illegal immigrant.

The second crash involves a car allegedly heading the wrong way on I-43/894, before hitting an SUV. The SUV driver walked away from the crash, but the car's passenger was seriously injured. It's driver admitted to being in the US illegally.




Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke says, "I just don't think that's the answer. If you're in the country illegally, why are we giving anybody any document that says they should be here?"

Clarke believes it's up to our legislative leaders to develop a concise immigration policy, instead of continuing with politics as usual. He says, "While that stuff's going on that foolishness people are being hurt, and killed because we we don't have effective immigration policy in the United States."

Clarke says the primary focus is that the driver was drunk, and believes OWI sentencing isn't strong enough to discourage the behavior.

Both Clarke and Neumann-Ortiz say the federal government needs to address the issue of illegal immigration.

Voces De La Frontera Director, an immigrant rights group, Christine Neumann-Ortiz has been pushing for the creation of a driver's card, which would allow people who are in the country illegally to get educated on the rules of the road. She says, "The fact is that people who are here, who will drive regardless, out of sheer necessity. It is in everyone's benefit that they have access to education, and information about the rules of the road are."


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