Thread: Immigrant criminals worry law enforcement

Sound familiar? It's a shame the people of Alabama did not support Mo. He would have kept his promise and done something about this. Instead, Alabamian's have nominated a LOBBYIST for republican Lt. Gov. On top of that, they nominated Bob Riley AGAIN to run for Gov. after all the lies and BS he has pulled! I love my state but sometimes I want to snatch these people bald headed (as my mom says)!

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/ ... xml&coll=1



Immigrant criminals worry law enforcement

Thursday, July 20, 2006
By PATRICIA C. McCARTER
Times Staff Writer patricia.mccarter@htimes.com

Number of illegals in county jail is increasing, official says

In the Madison County Detention Facility, paper towels are sought-after contraband.

Artistic inmates use them as canvasses, and Sgt. Jaime Velez said sometimes that artwork gives insight into who is getting three hots and a cot.

At a Wednesday luncheon, Velez told the Republican Women of Madison that the paper towel art has shown that the county jail is home to members of "MS13," also known as "the Mexican Mafia." The corrections officer passed around examples of the contraband and said that inside the images of the World Trade Center bombings, Jesus, low-riding cars and prison watch towers were emblems that could be traced to MS13.

When Velez - who was born in New York City to Puerto Rican immigrant parents - came to work at the county jail in 1998, only four inmates were Hispanic. Today, he said, that population is as high as 50.

With an influx of illegal immigrants has come an influx of illegal immigrant criminals. Beyond crowding an already overcrowded jail, Velez said the Hispanic inmates create a problem by not speaking English.

Only 14 of the county's law enforcement officers speak Spanish, he said.

Velez is one of them. By being called on to interpret inside the jail or during an arrest, he's taken away from his regular post.

The county's law enforcement officers go through "Speedy Spanish" lessons each year - 16 hours for their first year on the job and then 8-hour refresher courses each year after that - but that's hardly enough to make them fluent. They learn phrases like, "Hand me your driver's license," "Put your hands behind your head," and "Write your name."

"To the average corrections officer, it's quite frustrating to be unable to communicate," Velez said.

County Commissioner Mo Brooks told the women's group that the immigration problem is complicated, but there is a simple thing they could do to try and combat it: Don't support businesses that hire illegal aliens.

One woman said she refuses to buy Tyson chicken because of all the immigrant labor the chicken plant in Albertville hires.

Another woman said when she has landscaping or construction work done on her home, she makes sure no illegals are involved.

Brooks said that is a good start. "The cause of the problem is employers who would rather hire illegals because it's cheaper," he said.

Brooks, who unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor this year, suggested legislation that would require businesses to pay new taxes if they hire foreigners and to hold those employers financially liable if one of its illegal employees injures or kills someone in a car wreck or other incident.

pay new taxes if they hire foreigners and to hold those employers financially liable if one of its illegal employees injures or kills someone in a car wreck or other incident.

Yep.....they sponsor them....they should be responsible for them. Too many screw-ups and maybe they'd see American Citizens are a bargain.

I think these employers that hire them should pay to have medical exams and immunizations, pay their hospital bills if they get injured. and pay for their wrecks. THey should take responsibility for them! They would stop hiring them if they had to pay all of these things!