Thread: FL:Bonita Springs immigrants held at DCF visit seek release

Bonita Springs immigrants held at DCF visit seek release

Others may be wary to report abuses
By JANINE ZEITLIN • jzeitlin@news-press.com • March 24, 2009

http://news-press.com/article/20090324/ ... 40356/1075

A Bonita Springs grandfather targeted by immigration officials during a visit with his grandsons in foster care is on supervised release after appearing before an immigration officer Monday in Miami.

John de Leon, a Miami lawyer, was referred Victor Arriaga's case by the Mexican Consulate. He's helping Arriaga's wife, Elida, who is also undocumented and remains detained.

De Leon said mixing immigration and the Department of Children and Families system will make immigrants who are here illegally wary of reporting child abuse and cooperating as witnesses.

"These grandparents were cooperating with DCF, and they were double-crossed," de Leon said. "It creates a level of distress that could be devastating to families in the state of Florida."

De Leon plans to call upon federal lawmakers for help in obtaining Elida Arriaga's release. A press conference in front of DCF offices in Miami is in the works this week, he said.

In late February, Collier County sheriff's authorities detained Elida Arriaga after a case manager arranged a visit for the couple to see their two grandsons.

Some Collier deputies have immigration enforcement powers.

A Children's Network of Southwest Florida spokeswoman has said the case manager, Pam Stevens, did not reach out to authorities, though the couple's friend, Veronica Rodriguez, said she asked her about the pair's legal status.

The network is contracted by the department to run foster care.

Victor Arriaga said authorities freed him to care for the couple's three children, ages 12, 15 and 17.

Their 19-year-old daughter, Karen Arriaga, was arrested in mid-February on a charge of child neglect. DCF closed its investigation the month before with evidence of threatened harm and medical neglect for one child and threatened harm for another. Her sons, 1 and 2, have been in foster care, Victor Arriaga said.

Erin Gillespie, a local DCF spokeswoman, said the agency's policy is not to report immigration status, but it has to cooperate with law enforcement.

"There's no way for us to tell them how to do their job," Gillespie said.

Asked if she felt the events could discourage illegal immigrants from coming forward, she said: "I hope not. ... People are mandated by law to report child abuse."

On Monday, Victor Arriaga said he's grateful to be on supervised release, but now hesitant to work with other officials such as those in the schools.

"It's unjust what the case manager did," Victor Arriaga said. "Not everyone's the same, but we've seen what can happen."

Asked if she felt the events could discourage illegal immigrants from coming forward, she said: "I hope not. ... People are mandated by law to report child abuse."

On Monday, Victor Arriaga said he's grateful to be on supervised release, but now hesitant to work with other officials such as those in the schools.

"It's unjust what the case manager did," Victor Arriaga said. "Not everyone's the same, but we've seen what can happen."

Unjust? No papi, what's unjust is illegal aliens allowed to subvert the law! If illegals won't report child abuse, that's on them. They obviously care more for themselves at the expense of their own kids. ALL illegals should be reported to law enforcement!

On Monday, Victor Arriaga said he's grateful to be on supervised release, but now hesitant to work with other officials such as those in the schools.



Really? And was it Victor and his wife who worked with officials in reporting their daughter for the abuse and neglect she was heaping onto those two babies........or did someone else turn her in while they ignored it so they could continue to hide the family's illegal alien status?

Unless they were the ones who brought the abuse of their grandchildren to the attention of officials, I don't want to hear about how they are hesitant about working with them in the future