Thread: County cops to check immigration status of some suspects

County cops to check immigration status of some suspects
By Jennifer Deseo | February 11, 2009
The new policy keeps criminals off the street, and the PD out of federal business, MoCo exec Ike Leggett insists.


Anyone busted in Montgomery County for a violent crime will have his or her immigration status put through the wringer, MoCo exec Ike Leggett announced Tuesday.

In a Feb 10 memo to police chief Thomas Manger, Leggett said anyone charged with illegal gun possession, murder, rape, or other violent crimes will have their names sent to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The feds then will determine whether a suspect is in the country illegally.

“This new policy can assist the county in helping to keep violent offenders off the streets,â€

The new deal responds to recent high-profile crimes involving suspects who were undocumented immigrants. That includes the November shooting death of 14-year-old Tai Lam on a Ride-On bus in Long Branch. At least two of the three suspects in that case were in the country illegally, MoCo police said.

But the real rub was that this wasn’t the suspected shooter’s first run-in with the law. Hector Mauricio Hernandez, an illegal immigrant and Takoma Park resident, was busted in October for carrying a switchblade knife, then released on his own recognizance. His immigration status was not reviewed, as was county policy at the time.

Crap like this has been going on for years nationwide. It's about time ALL departments of the law nationwide act on immigration status.

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

The new deal responds to recent high-profile crimes involving suspects who were undocumented immigrants. That includes the November shooting death of 14-year-old Tai Lam on a Ride-On bus in Long Branch. At least two of the three suspects in that case were in the country illegally, MoCo police said.

But the real rub was that this wasn’t the suspected shooter’s first run-in with the law. Hector Mauricio Hernandez, an illegal immigrant and Takoma Park resident, was busted in October for carrying a switchblade knife, then released on his own recognizance. His immigration status was not reviewed, as was county policy at the time.

Crap like this has been going on for years nationwide. It's about time ALL departments of the law nationwide act on immigration status.

You're right, Ratbastard, we shouldn't need the 287g program. It should be that immigration laws are enforced by those right down to the local enforcement agencies.