Thread: Lawbreaking illegals are the most likely to be deported

http://www.carthagepress.com/articles/2 ... %20ill.txt

Lawbreaking illegals are the most likely to be deported
By Dennis W. Sowers Of The Press Staff


The Hispanic population in Carthage grew to 1,589 residents or 12.5 percent of the city total by the 2000 census.

Many of the residents counted were in the country legally, but many were not. Those Hispanic residents who are here illegally draw the most attention and are the subject of questions.

“There are clearly lots of undocumented workers in Carthage,” said Police Chief Dennis Veach whose department deals directly with them. “I think it's 25 percent of the population.

“The majority are hardworking people and came for economic reasons, but they did come here against the laws of this country. That's a truth I can't get past.”

Veach concedes that it is difficult for a Mexican resident, for instance, to get in the country legally to work. He said it is impossible to get a work visa and it costs more money than a worker has.

“There should be a legitimate way for workers to enter the country,” Veach said. “That way there would be records and documents.”

The arrest of 56 illegal immigrants last week brought the problem to light again. The Wisconsin company that hired them, and maybe documented them, compounded the problem.

Many illegal immigrants get past the law. They can live and work in the city as long as they obey the law. It is only when they go outside the law or are suspected or being outside the law that their residence in this country is threatened.



Veach said that when he came to Carthage in 1998 there was hardly anyone deported. Illegal aliens only came to the attention of what was then Immigration and Naturalization Services when they were involved in a serious felony.

“Just about anything less didn't count,” Veach said. “They (INS) just weren't interested.

“Quite frankly, if we saw someone walking down the street who was undocumented, we couldn't arrest them.

“All that changed dramatically on Sept. 11 and is continuing to this day.”

Now a minor violation will draw the attention of Carthage Police Department officers and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“No matter how minor, ICE will research the name,” Veach said. “If they believe the person is in the country illegally, they will put a detainer on him or her. When charges are satisfied (enforced or dropped) they will deport them.”

An illegal immigrant can be discovered by a car stop, vehicle accident or citizen complaint. In the initial contact, officers look for a valid ID and social security number. Not speaking English can compound the problem. An officer will contact ICE in these situations to check if the individual is legal or not.

Veach said that 112 residents were turned over to ICE in 2005.

Illegal immigrants will continue to work for area companies until a violation of the law or a citizen complaint occurs. Veach said it is not a municipal issue to monitor the number of illegal workers.

The 2000 U.S. Census showed 10,984 residents were white or 86.7 percent of the 12,668 total population. Besides Hispanics, the census showed 842 or 6.6 percent were of some other race and 285 or 2.2 percent as two or more races. Only 195 or 1.5 percent were African American, 202 or 1.6 percent Asian and 133 or 1.0 percent American Indian or Alaska native. Also, 27 or 0.2 percent of the population listed their ethnicity as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

Since they are ALL breaking the law just by being here, this article makes little to no sense. The ones who kill or maim someone should be behind bars, and possibly on death row to make sure they don't go home then come back and commit another crime.

doesn't the word ILLEGAL, mean "against the law?"

Jeepers, creepers!