Thread: ICE arrests grocery store manager

ICE arrests grocery store manager

Posted Feb 9, 2017 at 10:22 AM Updated Feb 9, 2017 at 11:47 AM

By David Adlerstein The Apalachicola Timesdadlerstein@starfl.com 850-653-8894
Editor's Note: This story has been modified from the print version to reflect the correct age of Mr. Monroy, who is 50.

When agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ride into town, it's bound to generate rumors and last week in Apalachicola was no exception.

On a morning visit Friday, agents from ICE picked up a high-profile member of the local community, a longtime resident, a manager at the Piggly-Wiggly, a family man.

Immediately talk began spreading that the arrest of Jose Francisco "Pancho" Grijalva Monroy, 50, of Apalachicola, was just part of a large sweep through Gulf and Franklin counties, targeted at workplaces where undocumented aliens are suspected to be working.

But, according to a spokeswoman for ICE, that was not the case.

Tammy Spicer said Tuesday that "we have not had increased immigration law enforcement activities in the Franklin County area. There's been no activity of that nature, nothing out of the norm.

"We did not go to seafood houses or construction sites and do multiple arrests last week," she said.

Spicer would not comment further on Monroy's case.

According to sources familiar with the case, he was transported to Wakulla County, where ICE operates a detention facility as part of a contract with the county jail in Crawfordville.

Both Sheriff A.J. Smith and Apalachicola Police Chief Bobby Varnes said they were not part of Monroy's arrest, and were made aware ICE agents would be coming into the county only minutes before their arrival.

"They didn't tell nobody," said Varnes. "All they did is call the jail and advise they were going to be in the area.

"They used our (Apalachicola Police Department) office, and after that they left," he said.

The reasons for Monroy's arrest have not been made public by ICE, which is responsible for apprehending non-U.S. citizens and keeping them in custody in detention facilities until they may be released on bond and their cases adjudicated.

Monroy, a native of El Salvador, has lived in Apalachicola over 20 years and holds a position of responsibility at one of Apalachicola's two largest grocery stores.

Some have speculated that the arrest may be connected to Monroy's 1997 arrest in Franklin County for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. But following successful completion of a deferred prosecution agreement, that case was dropped by prosecutors, and the case closed, without a finding of guilty, in Circuit Judge Francis Steinmeyer's courtroom.

Elizabeth Ricci, a leading immigration attorney in Tallahassee, said she could not speak on Monroy's case.

She did note that her office had received several calls Friday regarding fears of ICE enforcement actions in the area, including a call from a construction crew head who said they had heard agents were coming on to construction sites in the Gulf County area.

Ricci spoke generally about the immigration scenario facing Panhandle communities, a stepped-up enforcement that dates back from prior to the election of President Trump.

"I think people don't realize there were more deportations under Obama then in the past," she said. "In the last four to five years he was not easy on deportations."

Ricci said typically, a detainee arrested in connection with having violated immigration laws will be presented with a stipulated waiver, in which the individual agrees to be released and sent back to their home countries without first seeing a judge.

But, she said. "many of them will be eligible for a benefit of going before the judge. You have the right to see a judge as long as you haven't been deported."

In addition to not having ever been deported, a person who has lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, has immediate family who are either citizens or permanent residents, and who has no serious criminal history, is eligible for a hearing on what is typically a civil offense, punishable by deportation.

"If they have a criminal history they need to have that vacated," said Ricci, noting that there is a proposal under discussion in the Florida legislature for a crime to carry a higher penalty if committed by an undocumented alien.

She said the court that hears these cases in Orlando has at least 3,000 cases pending, and that she as an attorney is now being assigned dates for cases expected to be heard in 2019 or 2020.

In the interim, those individuals eligible to be released on bond, which is usually in the $2,500 to $3,000 range, can also receive authorization to work, and to obtain permission to drive.

Ricci said signs of "anti immigrant fervor" have made "immigration enforcement a priority all over the county.

"It can be just a sweep, to show they're flexing muscles, that they want to see immigrants flee the area," she said. "It looks good, it looks like we're protecting America."

She said she also expects that "we'll see more and more I-9 compliance, where ICE will ask to see the employer's I-9 (proof of legal residency forms)

"They can be fined hundreds or hundreds of thousands of dollars," Ricci said.

"These kinds of raids or sweeps can break a town," she said. "You have towns that have immigrant-heavy industries that rely on these people. They're hardworking people, they're family values people, but a number get scared and they leave the town.

"Then there's no one to pick up" the work," she said. "The crops were dying on the vine."

http://www.apalachtimes.com/news/201...-store-manager

TX. ICE officer involved in scuffle in N. Austin

She said the court that hears these cases in Orlando has at least 3,000 cases pending, and that she as an attorney is now being assigned dates for cases expected to be heard in 2019 or 2020.

In the interim, those individuals eligible to be released on bond, which is usually in the $2,500 to $3,000 range, can also receive authorization to work, and to obtain permission to drive.

Oh, that's ridiculous. This needs to be ramped up immediately and once the confirmation of illegal status is verified, presented to a Judge, any Judge, a Magistrate Judge for example, a new any person who can read Judge, order the deportation and off they go. You can process hundreds a day, in groups. Move 'em out. FAST.

Federal Immigration Court Backlog Tops 500,000 Pending Cases

Immigration court backlogs increased 163% from FY 2003 to April 2015.

http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sit...logs_final.pdf

Oh that is just ridiculous. Over 12 million Americans are processed every year by regular law enforcement. Federal authorities, wake the hell up and get this deportation hearing crap fast-tracked. Are you a citizen? Y or N. If yes, proof. If no, do you have papers? If y, show them, verify them, if no, out you go. It takes less than 3 minutes. You can even do it in a group like they do traffic tickets. We don't care how long you've been here, what other crimes you've committed, how many kids and spouses you have except where are they so you can go get them, deport the spouses if illegals also, and deport the children with the parents, and that's it. Load 'em all up, ship 'em out.

How to Become an Immigration Judge

By Renee Booker

Justice image by MVit from Fotolia.com

An immigration judge's ruling can have a life-altering effect on entire families. Unlike most judges, immigration judges conduct administrative proceedings that determine whether foreign-born nationals have violated a United States immigration law and therefore are subject to removal.

Immigration judges can order a person removed back to their country of origin or make a determination that they are eligible for asylum or another form of relief and may remain in the country.

• Complete law school at an American Bar Association accredited law school and graduate with a Juris Doctorate.

• Pass the bar exam in the state where you wish to practice law. Complete the required character and fitness background report as well as the multi-state professional responsibility exam if required in your state in order to become licensed to practice law.
• Gain experience practicing immigration law. While practicing immigration law, join professional associations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association as well as local or state bar associations and any sub-sections focused on immigration law.
• Utilize the required continuing legal education requirements that are mandatory for all attorneys to further your knowledge and education in immigration law.
• Receive an appointment from the Attorney General of the United States to a position as an immigration judge in one of the 58 immigration courts found throughout the United States.

Tips & Warnings

• The appointment process can be very political in nature. Involvement in party politics may help your chances to receive an appointment.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6618523_beco...ion-judge.html

Didn't I read somewhere recently that AG Sessions has been tasked with hiring more immigrant judges?

As immigration judges' working conditions worsen, more may choose to retire

www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-immigration-judges-20150818-story.html

Aug 18, 2015 - Immigration Judge Eliza Klein had more than 20 years' experience hearing cases in Boston, Miami and, most recently, Chicago when a surge ...

Originally Posted by MW

Didn't I read somewhere recently that AG Sessions has been tasked with hiring more immigrant judges?

Didn't Trump freeze federal employee hiring?
Each judge requires a court clerk, bailiff, a court recorder, and other employees.