Thread: Houston:Is Immigration Reform Needed?

Video included at source
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=6710248

Is immigration reform needed?

Saturday, March 14, 2009 | 6:27 PM
By Elissa Rivas

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The shooting of a police officer is causing renewed calls for immigration reform, especially when it comes to crime. People on all sides of the issue are split about what to do.

"There's no real integrity to the whole system," said former INS Agent Michael Cutler.

"We want to send out the message that not every immigrant is a criminal. There's tons of hard working people out there, and it is for the reason of public safety that we need to know whose here," said Cesar Espinosa of the Central American Resource Center.

Most people agree with millions of undocumented immigrants living in the United States, change is needed. However, what that change could be depends on who you ask.

Houston Mayor Bill White went on record by writing to the Office of Homeland Security asking illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes to be immediately deported. His request came after he learned that a man, Wilfido Joel Alfaro, suspected of shooting HPD Officer Rick Salter, was not in the U.S. legally.

It seems a repeat of what police said happened to Officer Rodney Johnson, shot by illegal immigrant Juan Quintero in 2006, as the officer tried to arrest him.

"ICE needs more agents, more facilities, and more resources. They need cooperation between local law enforcement and immigration," said Cutler.
Cutler was in Houston this weekend to talk to the group Texans for Immigration Reform.

The group's Louise Whiteford said, "It can be detrimental to our sovereignty not to have a clear policy on immigration."

Espinosa of the Central American Resource Center said more can be done by local law enforcement, but he doesn't want to see profiling.

"If they're going to check one sector of the population, they have to check everybody, not just the Latino community, not just the Asian community, the Muslim community, but they have to check everybody," said Espinosa.

Earlier this week, both Mayor White and Police Chief Harold Hurtt called for the federal government to change the way information is compiled on illegal immigrants and asked for access to the immigration and deportation status of people convicted of serious crimes.

quote("If they're going to check one sector of the population, they have to check everybody, not just the Latino community, not just the Asian community, the Muslim community, but they have to check everybody," said Espinosa.)quote


Good idea,don't think you will like the results however I'm certainly for it.

Originally Posted by oldguy

quote("If they're going to check one sector of the population, they have to check everybody, not just the Latino community, not just the Asian community, the Muslim community, but they have to check everybody," said Espinosa.)quote


Good idea,don't think you will like the results however I'm certainly for it.

Me too.....I'd gladly carry my birth certificate (not a certificate of live birth either but a real one ) and subject myself to license checks like they used to do back in the '70's if it would send more illegals packin'...

YUP, the wrong person or family gets killed and NOW there's a problem??? PLEASE!!!!!

OH no Obama and Janet have to think about it, according to them their is no problems ( there already in over 230 cities)....Why can we not get a president who will stand behind and support our Military, police officers, border patrol, you know the men/woman that serve country, I mean really we would not want to give them any real help, or plug up the huge holes one the border!

"If they're going to check one sector of the population, they have to check everybody, not just the Latino community, not just the Asian community, the Muslim community, but they have to check everybody," said Espinosa.

NO KIDDING!! This is what we have advocated all along!!! The immigration status of EVERYONE is checked when taken into custody or when an ICE raid takes place!

Have more license checkpoints in which the licenses of everyone who comes thru is checked. If someone is found not to have a license, a secondary investigation should be made, including immigration checks!

It's not that difficult!

Originally Posted by Texas2step

"We want to send out the message that not every immigrant is a criminal. There's tons of hard working people out there, and it is for the reason of public safety that we need to know whose here," said Cesar Espinosa of the Central American Resource Center.

Espinosa, how dare you insult immigrants like you did. Immigrants have already been shown to be law abiding people. It's ILLEGAL aliens that are criminals, ALL of them. We are you idiots going to figure out the difference and quit insulting those who have come here from other countries LEGALLY?

People on all sides of the issue are split about what to do.

Well, it's certainly not an equal split, that's for sure.

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Why can we not get a president who will stand behind and support our Military, police officers, border patrol, you know the men/woman that serve country, I mean really we would not want to give them any real help, or plug up the huge holes one the border!

Well, we would have to elect an American President first off!