Thread: Oh.Sheriff's office questioned after illegals detained

Sheriff's office questioned after alleged illegal aliens detained
Associated Press
HAMILTON, Ohio - A sheriff who has complained that federal resources are stretched too thin to adequately police his region's ballooning immigrant population said he had to release 18 men who told deputies they were illegal aliens because his office can't enforce immigration laws.

Now, the American Civil Liberties Union and federal officials are questioning whether the deputies had the right to detain the men in the first place.

Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones has insisted his office acted appropriately, saying the men were detained because they could not be identified and because of a communications barrier. Jones said the case has been referred to immigration officials and the sheriff's office plans to continue an investigation to find the men's employer.

But Richard Wilkens, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Cincinnati office, said that, generally, local authorities can only take illegal aliens or those suspected of being illegal into custody if they are being charged with violating state law.

"At no time did they contact us until after they had the individuals in custody and didn't know what to do with them," Wilkens said. "I don't know what the Ohio state law violation was. If they had a state law violation that they arrested the people for, then they are fine. But if they arrested the individuals for being suspected illegal aliens, they don't have the authority to do that."

The men were detained after a man called authorities to report a potential fight between construction workers at a home building site on Thursday morning.

"I'm working out here on a construction site and there's about 20, 30 Mexicans and about five or six Americans and we're about ready to all fight because they're all illegal aliens out here and we're Americans and they're out here taking our jobs," the man said in the call to the sheriff's office.

When deputies asked the men for identification, some of them said they had none and others offered papers that Capt. Norm Lewis said were "obviously bogus." The men were detained and interviewed by investigators. They were released by 11 p.m. without being charged.

Jones has drawn attention for billing the federal government for housing inmates who are suspected of being illegal and launching a $10,000 advertising campaign to warn employers who are hiring illegal immigrants that they are breaking federal law.

Some Butler County leaders have said they want legislation that would make it a state crime of trespass to be in Ohio illegally.

"We have to send a message," Jones said. "We can't just sit here on our hands."

Questions have arisen about whether the sheriff's office had a legitimate reason detain the men, said Carrie Davis, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio in Cleveland.

"Were they detaining people because of a suspected crime or was it simply because they wanted to see if people were documented? That determines the constitutionality of their acts," Davis said.

Sherry Neal, a Cincinnati immigration attorney and president of the Ohio Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said she's trying learn more about what happened.

"I can't get any information," she said. "Local police have the legal authority to detain on criminal issues, but they don't have the legal authority to enforce immigration laws."
http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/n ... 629272.htm


I don't know which is worse. Lawyers, the ACLU (more lawyers) or the illegals!

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Does this mean that each State has to pass a law which will not allow illegals into their States and then they can arrest them? OMG we are really in for a fight now.

Originally Posted by Iiamstheone

Does this mean that each State has to pass a law which will not allow illegals into their States and then they can arrest them? OMG we are really in for a fight now.

Seems like it. If the Fed keep dragging their feet, the States will have to make their own laws. Can you imagine, every State with different laws?

Wonderful. As usual ICE, the servant of the ACLU and the Mexican government is muzzling authorities who try to enforce laws by arresting illegal aliens using fraudulent documents hmmmm.......maybe social secuirty numbers? I wonder how these illegal alien lovers would react if one of their family members was a victim of identity theft or other crimes committed by these wonderful human beings? God help us all. We are under the jurisdiction of a foolish, bumbling, immoral, inept, incompetent and impotent administration and Senate. THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being a Texas Police Officer i have the right to stop and detain anybody if i have P.C. to believe there up to no good. If the Sheriffs department had a complaint that the illegals was harrasing people they could be detained. Upon detaining them if they gave me false identification papers they could have then been arrested for having, and presenting false documents. that in itself could have turned into a felony charge with a little investigation. I dont understand how they where released with no charges unless they where unlawfully arrested, and the deputies lied.

But Richard Wilkens, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Cincinnati office, said that, generally, local authorities can only take illegal aliens or those suspected of being illegal into custody if they are being charged with violating state law.

They ARE violating the law (okay, maybe not STATE law, but each state will have to decide for themselves) by being here in the first place!!

Double AAAAHHHH!!!

I know this is an old law and that the Bush administration does not want to consider this possibility, but I thought any federal magistrate could deputize local law enforcement as deputies to US Marshals. Like I said, maybe this is out of date, but I thought you could swear in deputies on the spot to enforce federal laws. I do know the US Marshal service is alive and well.

One question I have always had. If local law enforcement can arrest a bank robber wanted on federal charges (and they can) then why is enforcing another federal law any different?

Originally Posted by moosetracks

Originally Posted by Iiamstheone

Does this mean that each State has to pass a law which will not allow illegals into their States and then they can arrest them? OMG we are really in for a fight now.

Seems like it. If the Fed keep dragging their feet, the States will have to make their own laws. Can you imagine, every State with different laws?

it's about time the states started standing up for themselves, we just need enough of them to get "fed up" with the feds

Today I was at the Beach getting a Petition signed to get the illegals out.
There was a Mexican Man there with a pointer sign there also. I went up to the man and asked him. "you got papers?" No he said. I was hot, I told the 50 or so people see this this is what we are fighting for! my boys could have this job!
I walked to the million dollar condos and talked to the property manager and told her that she better get that illegal off of PCH or I would make sure ICE or Homeland Secutity would find out who really built the new condos.
I walked back and was not 5 ft from the illegal. the pointer in the bike lane
bikers going around.
the lifeguard didnt see the biker and ran right into him BAM!
It was the illegals fault! The lifeguard couldnt see the bikers because this illegal was in the bike lane with his sign.
I couldnt believe that they didnt ask for his ID. I wanted to see if they would.
They asked me for mine to give a statement! But when they asked him what happened he DID NOT HAVE TO SHOW HIS.
I was outragged!
I asked the sheriff when he was going to grow some (**** and take him in and he said he was not allowed to that I would have to talk to the State.
So, this is a HUGE PROBLEM LOCALLY. The ACLU is to powerful and I am for knocking them down a couple of notches!
I am going to City Hall Monday and talking to the Mayor and the Chief of Police.
I have had it! I think town hall meetings might be the answer!
I went to court for supporting Joe Turner in San Bernardino that got over 3000 signitures to close day labor speak only english fine employers. The ACLU and the Attorneys for Immigrants rights the DA's office all threatened the Mayor and Councel with law suits "We will Bankrupt this City"
It was my turn to speak and I told them they had no right to threaten anybody and that we the people are tired of them throwing there wieght around and we are not going to take it anymore that if they cant stay on the issues to shut up.
Maybe everytime we go to City Hall we can get some things done

Yes we all need to go locally to talk to City Hall and see what we can do LOCALLY!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK?

LETS ROLL