Thread: IL-Immigration issues leave wounds open

Immigration issues leave wounds open
By Will Brumleve
Monday, September 8, 2008 12:03 PM CDT

BUCKLEY – Last week Dave Dettmering reluctantly recalled a tragic and life-changing event: the crash caused by an alleged drunken driver that claimed the life of his father, Marvin Dettmering, one year ago.

And on Thursday, Dettmering will mark the fourth year since the death of Zachary Mingee, a young man whom he coached in baseball at Christ Lutheran High School. Zachary died in an automobile crash in 2004.

To go along with the grief that Dettmering and the Mingee family are feeling is frustration because the two deaths were the result of crashes involving two illegal immigrants, who were allegedly driving drunk when the accidents occurred. And neither is in jail.

"I have a bad feeling they're taking this stuff a little too lightly, with the illegal immigration," said Zach's father, John Mingee. "I think they really need to look a lot more carefully."

Dettmering calls it a bad situation.

"You know people let (illegal immigrants) in here (to the U.S.) and then they hire them when they know it's illegal, and then stuff like this happens. And then we come to find out that they've got more rights than you or me. I just don't understand it.

"You've got to have closure, and it's just not there yet. It's just hard to deal with."

With news that Fernando Nunez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, will not be extradited to the U.S. for prosecution on charges in the death of Zachary Mingee, Dettmering remains concerned that something similar may happen in his father's case, which also involves an illegal immigrant from Mexico.

Nunez fled the U.S. after posting $6,000 cash to be released from jail in October 2004. Nunez, who was charged with reckless homicide, was able to post bond after Judge Gordon Lustfeldt did not grant Iroquois County State's Attorney Jim Devine's request to have bond increased from $50,000 to $100,000. Instead, bond was set at $60,000 – enough for a family member to come up with the required 10 percent.

Meanwhile, Luis Alcantar, the man accused of causing the auto wreck that killed Dettmering's father, also remains free on bond. According to Iroquois County State's Attorney Jim Devine, Alcantar is an illegal immigrant who faces felony charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, a new legal term for reckless homicide.

At the request of his attorney, Alcantar's bond was reduced from $150,000 to $50,000 on Nov. 8, 2007. A judge granted the request despite objections from Devine, who said the case reminded him of the Nunez one four years earlier.

"(The judge) set the bail clear down so (Alcantar) could afford it. ... Apparently, a life is only worth five grand," Dettmering said. "Where do you get off putting that amount of money on a life?"

Alcantar is scheduled for trial Oct. 6 for the fatal accident, which occurred on Sept. 2, 2007. Mr. Dettmering died several weeks later from injuries sustained in the wreck. Dettmering said he is disappointed that a judge would allow an illegal immigrant to go free, especially after the Nunez incident. Dettmering was promised that even if Alcantar posted bond, he would be taken into the custody of immigration authorities – but that has not happened, Dettmering noted. Alcantar has told officials he lives in Onarga.

"There's a lot of anger that exists in Ford and Iroquois counties with these kinds of situations, and I think the drumbeat's just getting louder to get something done with this," said Phil Bloomer, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson.

Johnson, R-Urbana, said he is committed to enforcing the laws, making sure illegal immigrants are brought back to the U.S. for prosecution of crimes, and assuring that only legal immigrants are in the U.S.

A pending piece of legislation he is co-sponsoring intends to help make that possible.

"I believe illegal immigration is one of the biggest problems we have today from an economic standpoint, a law enforcement standpoint," said Johnson.

Johnson is co-sponsoring the Save Act, which would add 8,000 new agents to protect America's borders, Johnson said, while providing increased fencing in an area of primary immigration concern. It also sets up an "e-verify" program that "polices" illegal immigration through employment. He said there is "no question" the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has risen "dramatically," which he said is not acceptable. "For people who say we can't enforce the law, they're wrong," Johnson said, noting the U.S. can also make penalties stiffer so it is not "just a catch-and-release system."

"We can do a whole lot to upgrade the law and enforce the law," he said.



http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/ ... ounds_open

"(The judge) set the bail clear down so (Alcantar) could afford it. ... Apparently, a life is only worth five grand," Dettmering said. "Where do you get off putting that amount of money on a life?"

There's alot of things where they are lowering bails and fines to alot less than a citizen has under the same circumstances. Anyone could run but a citizen takes a chance in most cases, where an illegal is going home to family and friends.

I'm wondering why an illegal isn't considered a 'flight risk' anyway and denied bail?

I'm wondering why an illegal isn't considered a 'flight risk' anyway and denied bail?

Wouldn't you think that would be the first red flag up? They already know to head to Mexico because they won't turn them over if the death penalty is even an option even when they are caught red handed. Most have some connection or atleast someone with a connection to new documents even if they just try and flea in the US to another state. We have countless murders here where the suspect fled the sceen and hasn't been found. Practically every one of the responses is wait at the border....they'll be crossing soon. It's a joke.

Johnson, R-Urbana, said he is committed to enforcing the laws, making sure illegal immigrants are brought back to the U.S. for prosecution of crimes, and assuring that only legal immigrants are in the U.S.

WE need more like this man. Commitment.