Comments 2| Recommend 1
Immigration officials launch anti-gang unit in Charlotte

06:12 PM EDT on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

By RAD BERKY / NewsChannel 36
E-mail Rad: RBerky@WCNC.com

Video
July 29th, 2009Anti-gang unit coming to Charlotte View larger E-mail clip More video Search Video:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Just one year after a massive roundup in Charlotte of suspected members of the violent MS-13 gang, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to launch its first anti-gang unit in North Carolina.

The gang unit will be headquartered in Charlotte, said Delbert Richburg, the ICE assistant special agent in charge. "We've definitely seen an increase in gang activity in North Carolina and particularly in Charlotte."

The new unit will conduct "surge operations" -- lightning-fast raids -- as well as long-term raids. "We're focusing on gang members on a day-to-day basis," said Richburg. "We're going to run operations that will disrupt and dismantle them."

In many of Charlotte's Hispanic neighborhoods, it is hard to find people who are not afraid to talk openly about the gangs and the violence that follows them.

Also Online
Related Story:
• 26 alleged members of MS-13 gang indicted
Robert Hernandez has lived here for years. He thinks young teens are drawn to the gangs when they come to the United States and find life here is not always the dream they thought it would be.

"Sometimes they can't find a job," he said. "This is bad. There is no reason for the gangs."

One edge the ICE unit will have is that ICE agents enforce immigration law. That means agents could take steps to get gang members sent home.

"If we don't have criminal charges we will be looking to put them in removal proceedings and deport gang members," said Richburg.

The new gang unit will be up and running in Charlotte in October


http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/ ... 8175a.html