Rep. Drake wants tougher laws for illegal immigrants

http://www.wvec.com/news/local/stories/ ... 3e3a9.html

06:31 PM EDT on Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Reported by: Wayne Carter


Tonight, a vigil will be held to remember Allison Kunhardt and Tessa Tranchant, who died in an accident Friday night. 13News investigators are looking into the laws that allowed the illegal immigrant charged with their deaths to remain in the country.

Outside of court Monday Dylan Trachant, older brother of Tessa, told 13News he's been down this road before. A friend of his in the military was struck by an illegal immigrant driving on the wrong side of the road.

"It was a head-on. He survived, but he doesn't have any legs,” said Tranchant.

The man charged with the deaths of Tranchant’s sister, Tessa, and her best friend Allison Kundhart, Alfredo Ramos, 22, has been in front of a judge numerous times in the past year, but never deported.

Tonight lawmakers are listening state delegate Ken Stolle says jails are over-crowded with illegals, and he's starting a task force to fix it.

"Very seldom is there any action from the federal government as to the status of their immigration status," said Stolle.

But federal lawmaker Thelma Drake says she's tried. Drake says this death could have been prevented if only the laws were tougher.

"I don't know why when they're caught they can't just be deported and gone," said Rep. Drake.