Thread: S.C.: Hispanic leaders meet with sheriff to discuss immigrat

Hispanic leaders meet with sheriff to discuss immigration laws
By MICHAEL WELLES SHAPIRO

Published Sunday, July 27, 2008

Responding to a recent crackdown on illegal immigration, local Hispanic leaders met with Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner on Tuesday.

The meeting had a few tense moments -- a reflection of the upheaval in the Hispanic community after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began targeting suspected illegal immigrants booked in county jails across the state.

The group of local pastors, businessmen, Spanish-language media representatives and other Hispanic community leaders said they were caught off guard when ICE's "Operation Surge" began in Beaufort County. Tanner said he plans to continue the program once federal agents leave, using five deputies trained to enforce

immigration laws.

"There are too many rumors and comments on the street," said Luis Bell of the Latin American Council. "That's why the group of concerned people got together with (Tanner) on Tuesday.

"There were a number of questions that the answers weren't what everyone wanted to hear, but it was a nice, informative meeting."

Tanner agreed that the meeting on Hilton Head Island mostly was civil.

He said he addressed a long list of questions and tried to clarify what was happening with the program. "The pastors of the churches had a million and one questions from their congregations," he said.

Some of those questions had basic answers: If you don't have a driver's license, don't drive.

But many leaders at the meeting were upset by the broader policy of targeting illegal immigrants.

One of the pastors at the meeting, Jose Rosado of Iglesia Ebenezer in Bluffton, said he was upset Tanner was planning to continue the program to identify suspected illegal immigrants in the jail regardless of the nature of their crime.

Rosado said he will be working in coming weeks to rally support for the Hispanic community in the face of county, state and federal measures meant to address the problem of illegal immigration.

Rosado said he wants religious leaders, regardless of their race or the race of their ministries, to take a stand.

"Why aren't they speaking up about what is happening to Hispanic people in the area?" he said. "A lot of English-speaking churches have Hispanic ministries ... but their leaders are crossing their arms."

Eric Esquivel, publisher of La Isla magazine and who also was at the meeting, said he will host a meeting of Hispanic leaders Monday.

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/ ... 60776.html

But many leaders at the meeting were upset by the broader policy of targeting illegal immigrants.

Well, tough. If these "leaders" really want to lead, they can tell the illegals to return to their home countries, apply, and, after waiting their turn, proving they won't be a burden to taxpayers, and showing a willingness to assimilate, they could perhaps enter legally.

Are these people aiding and abetting?

Some of those questions had basic answers: If you don't have a driver's license, don't drive.

But many leaders at the meeting were upset by the broader policy of targeting illegal immigrants.

One of the pastors at the meeting, Jose Rosado of Iglesia Ebenezer in Bluffton, said he was upset Tanner was planning to continue the program to identify suspected illegal immigrants in the jail regardless of the nature of their crime.

Is Jose Rosado a Dual Citizen? Is he an American citizen? If not why is he in the United States?

They have no voice . their not elected by citizens . yet they believe by "Whining" enough "They shall over-come". Different deal jack , totally different . pack up go home . let Americans have their jobs back . America First always !

After our sheriff applied for 287g the Hispanic leaders of our area asked to meet with him and he said no. Share this news with your sheriff if he is concerned about backlash. Apply and then announce. I have not heard of any backlash or protests -

He applied in December '07. He said it was NOT open for debate.


Sheriff's deportation power bid under fire Latino group seeks meeting

December 14, 2007
By RYAN PAGELOW rpagelow@scn1.com

WAUKEGAN -- A group of Latino leaders is urging the Lake County Sheriff's Office to withdraw its application for the federal authority to initiate deportation proceedings against immigrants convicted of serious crimes.

The Waukegan Leadership Council, which formed in the aftermath of Waukegan's application to the same program this summer, said there is already a process in place to deport serious criminals who are foreign-born. The council's main concern is that deportation powers would erode immigrants' trust of police if local law enforcement is linked to federal immigration enforcement.

The group sent a letter to Sheriff Mark Curran asking for a meeting because the decision to seek federal 287(g) authority was done without community input, said Porfirio Garcia, president of the Waukegan Leadership Council and owner of ReGar Realty, Inc. in Gurnee.

"The sheriff didn't ask for public opinion," Garcia said during a news conference Thursday.

Earlier this month, Curran announced that his office applied for six correctional officers to receive cross designation as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents under 287(g) and at the time said it was not open to debate. As of Thursday, he had not been personally asked to meet with the Waukegan Leadership Council, Curran said.

"If it's about debating the benefits of 287(g), they should hold their breath," he said. "I'm not going to take a poll or meet with groups to see if it's OK to uphold the law."

If the sheriff's application is approved, the six corrections officers at Lake County Jail would be trained to begin deportation proceedings against immigrants convicted of violent crimes, sex offenses and Class X or Class 1 drug felonies. The sheriff's office has partnered with ICE on warrants initiatives in the past.

"It's nothing that they're not doing already. It's simply assisting them," Curran said.

"We are not opposed to removing the criminal element from the community," said Waukegan 4th Ward Ald. Tony Figueroa, who is also a board member of the Waukegan Leadership Council.

But immigrants often fear local law enforcement when they are linked to immigration agents, Figueroa said. "We've already seen this in Waukegan. People are afraid to call police," he said.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-94241.html

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-92857.html