Thread: Five immigrants face deportation in death of popular school

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... -news-palm

By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted March 10 2006

Five undocumented immigrants could be deported to Mexico, and one also may face jail time in the United States, as the result of a traffic accident that killed a popular Palm Beach County principal.

Carlos Mejia, 30, was driving a pickup truck north on the Bee Line Highway in The Acreage with four passengers Wednesday morning when he hit the car of Margaret "Peggy" Campbell, principal of Western Pines Middle, who was on her way to school, the Sheriff's Office said. A preliminary investigation found that Mejia, 30, ran a red light.

Mejia and his four passengers, whose names were unavailable Thursday, were being held in the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade County awaiting deportation proceedings, officials said.

Immigration investigators are trying to determine if any of the men had been deported before from the United States, said Steve McDonald, spokesman for the Border Patrol.

If Mejia is charged and convicted for killing Campbell, he may be required to serve time in the United States before he gets deported, authorities said.

While authorities were making plans for the five men, Campbell's family members spent much of Thursday mourning and making funeral arrangements.

"The only solace we have is we believe it was an instantaneous thing," said Campbell's son, Jason Campbell. "She passed away doing exactly what she loved. She was on her way to work."

The public is invited to a service at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church, 241 Cypress Ave., Lake Park.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggested memorial donations to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Campbell had a heart procedure at the clinic in 1998 and had been involved in raising money for the hospital foundation, Jason Campbell said. She had planned to work for the foundation after she retired from the school district in 2008, her son said.

Jason Campbell said it was his mom's wish to have her cremated remains scattered on property that she and her husband, William Campbell, own in Ellijay, Ga.

In addition to her husband and son, she is survived by a daughter, Christie Campbell of Austin, Texas; a sister, Pat Hallengren, of Robbinsville, N.J.; and two grandchildren.

Campbell's school family also spent Thursday mourning her. Grief counselors were available for students and teachers. Many teachers and students discussed Campbell in class, said Assistant Principal Linda Scott, who is now in charge at Western Pines in The Acreage.

"It's been very difficult for our staff members, but they've just been doing an awesome job," Scott said. "There's definitely a calmness among students today."

Scott helped Campbell open Western Pines in 1997, and the two have been close friends. Scott also has a vacation home in north Georgia, and the two planned to spend time over Spring Break, sitting on rocking chairs at each others' houses, Scott said. Spring Break begins next weekend.

"Not only have I lost my boss, but I've also lost a very dear friend," Scott said.

Scott Travis can be reached at stravis@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6637.

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http://www.alipac.us/article-1099-thread-1-0.html

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/ ... 111143.htm

Posted on Thu, Mar. 16, 2006

Illegal Mexican immigrant charged with vehicular homicide

By


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - (AP) -- An illegal Mexican immigrant has been charged with driving a vehicle that hit and killed a middle school principal, authorities said.

Cesar Mejia will be transferred from Krome Detention Center to a jail where he will await trial on a vehicular homicide charge.

Mejia tried to out run a yellow light March 8 and hit a vehicle driven by Margaret ''Peggy'' Campbell, 62, authorities said. Campbell, who lived near Jupiter, had been the principal at Western Pines Middle School since it opened in 1997.

Mejia, who was carrying a driver's license from Mexico, also was charged with driving without a valid license.

''Until we investigate and find out what happened, I don't want him to go back to Mexico,'' Prosecutor Ellen Roberts said.

It was not immediately known if Mejia had an attorney.

''Until we investigate and find out what happened, I don't want him to go back to Mexico,'' Prosecutor Ellen Roberts said.

Huh? What's wrong with that statement?

Why would any thinking person consider allowing the creep's return to Mexico?

Originally Posted by had_enuf

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pcampbell10mar10,0,6456250.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

By Scott Travis
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted March 10 2006

Five undocumented immigrants could be deported to Mexico, and one also may face jail time in the United States, as the result of a traffic accident that killed a popular Palm Beach County principal.

Carlos Mejia, 30, was driving a pickup truck north on the Bee Line Highway in The Acreage with four passengers Wednesday morning when he hit the car of Margaret "Peggy" Campbell, principal of Western Pines Middle, who was on her way to school, the Sheriff's Office said. A preliminary investigation found that Mejia, 30, ran a red light.

Mejia and his four passengers, whose names were unavailable Thursday, were being held in the Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade County awaiting deportation proceedings, officials said.

Immigration investigators are trying to determine if any of the men had been deported before from the United States, said Steve McDonald, spokesman for the Border Patrol.

If Mejia is charged and convicted for killing Campbell, he may be required to serve time in the United States before he gets deported, authorities said.

While authorities were making plans for the five men, Campbell's family members spent much of Thursday mourning and making funeral arrangements.

"The only solace we have is we believe it was an instantaneous thing," said Campbell's son, Jason Campbell. "She passed away doing exactly what she loved. She was on her way to work."

The public is invited to a service at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church, 241 Cypress Ave., Lake Park.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggested memorial donations to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Campbell had a heart procedure at the clinic in 1998 and had been involved in raising money for the hospital foundation, Jason Campbell said. She had planned to work for the foundation after she retired from the school district in 2008, her son said.

Jason Campbell said it was his mom's wish to have her cremated remains scattered on property that she and her husband, William Campbell, own in Ellijay, Ga.

In addition to her husband and son, she is survived by a daughter, Christie Campbell of Austin, Texas; a sister, Pat Hallengren, of Robbinsville, N.J.; and two grandchildren.

Campbell's school family also spent Thursday mourning her. Grief counselors were available for students and teachers. Many teachers and students discussed Campbell in class, said Assistant Principal Linda Scott, who is now in charge at Western Pines in The Acreage.

"It's been very difficult for our staff members, but they've just been doing an awesome job," Scott said. "There's definitely a calmness among students today."

Scott helped Campbell open Western Pines in 1997, and the two have been close friends. Scott also has a vacation home in north Georgia, and the two planned to spend time over Spring Break, sitting on rocking chairs at each others' houses, Scott said. Spring Break begins next weekend.

"Not only have I lost my boss, but I've also lost a very dear friend," Scott said.

Scott Travis can be reached at stravis@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6637.

Deported? NO! Make them pick fruit or Vegies