Thread: Forum aims to urge more citizens' reporting of crimes

Forum aims to urge more citizens' reporting of crimes
By John C. Drake, Globe Staff | June 17, 2007

FRAMINGHAM -- Local police say fear of deportation and cultural barriers are preventing Brazilian immigrants in Framingham from reporting crime, and they're hoping a community meeting tomorrow will help.

"There is a lot of misinformation out there in the community that can be dispelled," said Lieutenant Paul Shastany, Framingham Police spokesman. "We're trying to remove barriers to reporting crime."

The 6 p.m. meeting at Town Hall will include police, officials from various other town agencies, representatives of the Justice Department's Community Relations Service, and social service agency representatives. It is also likely to include some protesters.

Officials have been hitting the airwaves and talking to community leaders to spread the word and convince immigrants that the event is not an illegal immigration sting. "They think it's a trick," Shastany said, adding that he's heard that concern on local radio.

Brazilian business owner and community activist Vera Dias-Freitas said she has been encouraging Brazilians to attend, assuring them that they won't be in danger. Brazilian clergy had planned to meet Friday night to prepare for the meeting.

"We have been very clear about what is going on," Dias-Freitas said. "One thing people fear most is ICE [Immigrations and Customs Enforcement], and ICE is totally independent from the Department of Justice now. I don't think there is any fear" about Monday's meeting.

However, a local anti-illegal immigration activist is planning to use the occasion to press local officials to enforce immigration laws.

"They should have been having this dialogue with the people of the town first about the problem of the Brazilians and illegal immigration," said Jim Rizoli, a Town Meeting member and host of a local public access program where he speaks out against illegal immigration. "Now, they're having a meeting with the Brazilians trying to calm their fears, and they're the ones creating the fears in town."

Rizoli has been encouraging residents to attend the meeting to challenge officials on their immigration policy. He said a protest outside the meeting is planned.

Dias-Freitas said Rizoli's position is well-known and added that while opponents have a right to be there, she does not believe it will cause Brazilians to "back off."

"This is not going to be a place for the anti-immigration group to intimidate the Brazilians," she said. "They have done that enough."

John C. Drake can be reached at 508-820-4229 or jdrake@globe.com.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articl ... es?mode=PF

Why does the blame always come back to the anti-immigration groups? If these people had entered the country legally they would not need to be worried about reporting crimes. American's are not paying for law enforcement to protect illegals. We are paying for law enforcement to enforce our immigration laws.

Originally Posted by Beckyal

Why does the blame always come back to the anti-immigration groups? If these people had entered the country legally they would not need to be worried about reporting crimes. American's are not paying for law enforcement to protect illegals. We are paying for law enforcement to enforce our immigration laws.

I agree!!! After reading one story after another about illegals being so afraid to report crimes for fear of deportation, I've been left with a big question:


How is that that these people who are out, in the open ,every single day of the week going about a normal life, going to government offices to conduct business, and have no qualms whatsoever about drawing attention to themselves by the thousands, are suddenly so afraid to report crime for fear of arrest and deportation on immigration crimes?

Given the facts, this allegation makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, like much of everything else surrounding this issue. While I believe that blaming anti-illegal immigration groups is just an opportunity to take a good swat, I'd be interested in knowing how much of this "fear" actually has to do with the fact that crackdowns have begun and enforcement has stepped up?

The other question would be, just how much of this fear is actually real, or is just being manufactured?