Thread: Immigration officials using felonies to track illegals

Immigration officials using felonies to track illegals

By Jim Cook

Published: August 22, 2009

When police charged Freddy DeLeon Perez with taking the lives of an Enterprise couple in a traffic accident earlier this year, it became more than a local criminal case.

After the filing of manslaughter charges against Perez in the deaths of Angel and Jeremy Seay, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took an interest as well. The felony case against Perez is among a trend across the Wiregrass of illegal immigrants being discovered after they’re charged with felony crimes on the local level.
Both Houston County District Attorney Doug Valeska and Sheriff Andy Hughes said they’ve seen an increase in crime by alleged illegal immigrants.

Hughes cited one recent case when deputies arrested a man for felony obstruction of justice and felony first-degree forgery in a fraudulent identity case. Deputies originally charged Carlos Cortez, but later found his real name was Luis Arellano-Hernandez. Investigators said Arellano-Hernandez had already been deported 28 times, convicted in federal court of drug crimes, along with a pending conspiracy to distribute drugs charge in Geneva County.

But Hughes said it’s not just people within the Hispanic community. Last year deputies and ICE agents arrested Hai Chao Liu, the former owner of a local Chinese restaurant, who had been wanted by immigration enforcement.

Valeska said many of the felony crimes filed against apparent illegal immigrants in the area tend to involve other illegal immigrants who are the victims of crime. He said his office has prosecuted illegal immigrants charged with a wide range of crimes, from misdemeanor driving under the influence to drug trafficking and murder. But he said because of their illegal status it makes the cases more difficult to prosecute, especially when witnesses don’t want to come forward.

“They’re on an increase from what they used to be, but we don’t have tremendous numbers,â€

[quote="jean"]Immigration officials using felonies to track illegals

By Jim Cook

Published: August 22, 2009

When police charged Freddy DeLeon Perez with taking the lives of an Enterprise couple in a traffic accident earlier this year, it became more than a local criminal case.

After the filing of manslaughter charges against Perez in the deaths of Angel and Jeremy Seay, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took an interest as well. The felony case against Perez is among a trend across the Wiregrass of illegal immigrants being discovered after they’re charged with felony crimes on the local level.
Both Houston County District Attorney Doug Valeska and Sheriff Andy Hughes said they’ve seen an increase in crime by alleged illegal immigrants.

Hughes cited one recent case when deputies arrested a man for felony obstruction of justice and felony first-degree forgery in a fraudulent identity case. Deputies originally charged Carlos Cortez, but later found his real name was Luis Arellano-Hernandez. Investigators said Arellano-Hernandez had already been deported 28 times, convicted in federal court of drug crimes, along with a pending conspiracy to distribute drugs charge in Geneva County.

But Hughes said it’s not just people within the Hispanic community. Last year deputies and ICE agents arrested Hai Chao Liu, the former owner of a local Chinese restaurant, who had been wanted by immigration enforcement.

Valeska said many of the felony crimes filed against apparent illegal immigrants in the area tend to involve other illegal immigrants who are the victims of crime. He said his office has prosecuted illegal immigrants charged with a wide range of crimes, from misdemeanor driving under the influence to drug trafficking and murder. But he said because of their illegal status it makes the cases more difficult to prosecute, especially when witnesses don’t want to come forward.

“They’re on an increase from what they used to be, but we don’t have tremendous numbers,â€