Supervisors Pledged to Deal With Illegal Immigrant Gangsters

Last Edited: Tuesday, 27 May 2008, 7:49 PM PDT
Created: Tuesday, 27 May 2008, 7:41 PM PDT


The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors pledged Tuesday to deal with illegal immigrant gang members.

The family of slain high school football player Jamiel Shaw Jr. appeared at Tueday's Board of Supervisors meeting to deliver a tearful plea for support
of the so-called Jamiel's Law, which would deny "sanctuary city" protection to illegal aliens in the city of Los Angeles.

"We do regularly get reports back from the Sheriff on those issues, and on ICE, and we would be very happy to have them come back so they can address those issues," said county Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke. "We will have a special meeting where we call them."

Shaw, 17, was gunned down by an alleged gang member who was in the country illegally on March 2 in the 2100 block of Fifth Avenue, near his
family's Arlington Heights home.

According to police, the shooting occurred one day after the alleged gunman, Pedro Espinoza, was released from county jail, where he was serving
time for assault with a deadly weapon. Espinoza was allegedly in the county illegally.

The Shaw family expressed concern that no immigration agents were waiting to deport Espinoza when he was released from jail.

"We need to do something," Anita Shaw, the victim's mother, said. "We need to get our head out of our behind and do something."

Burke said there would be discussion of the matter, but admitted that the board's power over the sheriff -- who oversees the jails -- was limited.

"Obviously, we don't run the jail; the sheriff is independently elected," Burke said. "But we have the ability to say to the sheriff that certain policies should be followed."


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