Thread: Prosecutor concerned about undocumented workers

Posted: Jan 29, 2015 5:41 PM PST Updated: Jan 29, 2015 5:50 PM PST
By Theresa Schmidt


Posted: Jan 29, 2015 5:41 PM PST Updated: Jan 29, 2015 5:50 PM PST
By Theresa Schmidt

It took nearly 7 years for a conviction in the brutal murder of Wanda Barton. The Lake Charles woman was stabbed and raped in her home with a child nearby.

Yesterday, a jury convicted Jose Garcia Guevara in just about 40 minutes. But the identity of Barton's killer could easily have remained a mystery.
That's because he was an illegal, undocumented worker in Southwest Louisiana.

But for diligent FBI and Sheriff's Deputies, DNA evidence and an illegal worker who told the truth-- they might never have figured out Garcia's true identity. It's a serious concern to prosecutor Rick Bryant.

"If they're undocumented we have no information on a name, age, fingerprints, IDs, nothing. So, if crimes are committed this is a real problem, should be a real concern," said Bryant.

Bryant says something needs to be done to assure the safety of all.

"I have no problem with our Hispanic population who work very hard, but I have a problem with people here illegally and there's no way for us to identify who they are or document who they are in cases just like this where a crime occurs. The easiest thing to do is just back up and leave and it's not like most crimes where you go to Texas or Florida and have authorities looking for them. If they go back to their country of origin, we're never gonna get them back," said Bryant.

Garcia did take a bus back to Mexico where he was a fugitive for years. In 2013 he became one of the FBI's top ten most wanted fugitives. Bryant has said there's some speculation that Garcia eventually surrendered due to pressure from drug cartels in the area where he lived in Mexico. Bryant says they heard the drug cartels didn't want the extra heavy presence of U.S. authorities in their area.

Ashley Foret Dees is a Lake Charles immigration attorney. She believes the President's executive order of last November would help remedy some issues related to undocumented workers.

"With that lawful work authorization document you can work lawfully, obtain a social security card, obtain a drivers license and remain in the United States in a lawful status. It's not permanent residency, it's not citizenship. It's a lawful status that would allow individuals who have had continued presence in the United States, and they have a qualifying relative here int he United States, it would allow those individuals to obtain lawful work permits," she said.

Dees points out there are always risks for both the employer and the employee when undocumented workers are hired.

Garcia will spend life in prison for murder and rape. His formal sentencing is February 20th.

http://www.kplctv.com/story/27978926...mented-workers

Ashley Foret Dees is a Lake Charles immigration attorney. She believes the President's executive order of last November would help remedy some issues related to undocumented workers.

"With that lawful work authorization document you can work lawfully, obtain a social security card, obtain a drivers license and remain in the United States in a lawful status. It's not permanent residency, it's not citizenship. It's a lawful status that would allow individuals who have had continued presence in the United States, and they have a qualifying relative here int he United States, it would allow those individuals to obtain lawful work permits," she said.

Dees points out there are always risks for both the employer and the employee when undocumented workers are hired.

Well, there is certainly no reason at all for a state that still ranks 3rd highest poverty rate as Louisiana to be worried about making it easier or less risky for illegal employers and employees to join hands and leave Louisiana's unemployed and destitute without jobs. It makes you wonder why someone would want to be an "immigration" attorney in the United States knowing full well that with every success you have for one of your illegal aliens, you've squandered the life and family of an American citizen and added 2 families to the welfare rolls of a nation that's already $18 trillion in debt.