http://www.vaildaily.com/article/200511 ... /111240054

Rift among Hispanics, police and courts

J.K. Perry
November 24, 2005

EAGLE COUNTY - For Hispanic immigrants new to the U.S., getting past the language barrier can be just the start of understanding a complex society with laws often quite different from those at home.

Pair that with an inherent distrust of police in their home countries and, for illegal immigrants, wariness of police in general and it can create a clash that's difficult to overcome.

"Most of the problem with Hispanics and the law system is they don't understand it," said Juan Martinez, a vocal member of the local Hispanic community. "When they come to live in the United States, the culture is so different. There are a lot of things you can do in other countries you can't do in the United States."

Martinez, a U.S. citizen who went to school in Mexico, said infractions such as driving with a broken tail light aren't a big deal in other countries. When Hispanics immigrate to the United States, they may inadvertently break the rules or even commit crimes without realizing it.

The first time Martinez took his driver's license test in the United States, he failed. When applying for a license in Mexico, people are not asked how many drinks a person can have before driving as they are in the United States, he said.

District Attorney Mark Hurlbert said he agreed some Hispanic immigrants don't understand U.S. or local laws. He often sees insurance and registration violations, which might not be required in other countries, he said.

"The people coming through our office are good people that just don't understand the laws," Hurlbert said.

Even so, Hurlbert said his office can't overlook the infractions.

"Ignorance of the law is not a defense," he said.



Hispanics and police

Tom Ziemann - director of Catholic Charities, a group with ties to the Hispanic community - said police officers are viewed differently in Latin America.

"(Hispanics') perception of law enforcement is tainted by their perception of what law enforcement is like in their country, which is typically negative," he said.

Illegal immigrants avoid police and other emergency services for fear of deportation, Ziemann said.

"There is some tension that exists there because of the immigration laws in our country," he said. "Obviously, immigration law taints their perception and interaction with law enforcement."

Sgt. Mike Leake of the Avon Police Department said all immigrants must know the law and can attend classes to learn it. Ignorance is one thing, but sometimes Hispanic immigrants might know the law but look the other way, he said.

"Immigrants that drive around with no drivers' license have got to know that's wrong because their country requires licenses," he said.

A lack of insurance and registration are common violations Leake sees among Hispanics, he said. When immigrants are stopped for these minor violations, they are either issued a court summons or arrested, Leake said. In both cases, the car is impounded to stop the person from driving.

Catholic Charities has tried in the past to help immigrants make the cultural transition with informational classes, but a lack of attendance resulted in cancellation of the program.

To learn the law, Hispanics must make an effort to attend these programs, Martinez said. But work might keep immigrants from attending, he said.

"A lot of people are afraid to let their employers know they are going to miss work to attend," he said. "They feel like they might be putting a burden on their employers."

Scherezada Milfeld, a Venezuelan immigrant, said she has studied English and culture, and other immigrants should do the same.

"All Hispanics should follow the rules and regulations set forth by all governing bodies as native Americans do," Milfeld said.