Thread: NC: Sheriff:Databases A Problem With Illegal Immigrant Cases

Sheriff: Databases A Problem With Illegal Immigrant Cases

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 - 03:52 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A father and son from Clayton were laid to rest together on Thursday.

Funerals for Jerry Braswell and his son, Jerry Jr., were held at a church in Garner Thursday afternoon.

The Braswells were killed Sunday in a fiery crash that police say was caused by Luciano Tellez, an unlicensed, illegal immigrant with prior DWI convictions.

Tellez is being held on $3 million bond and now authorities are considering deporting him.

NBC17 looked into why authorities have trouble dealing with illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

Local law enforcement officials tell NBC17 the reality is illegal immigration is a federal issue.

But the family of Jerry Braswell is outraged that a father and son lost their lives because of what could be summed up to government red tape.

Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison says housing illegal immigrants in the county jail is costing you big bucks.

"Year before last it cost us $2 million just to house. That's not counting medical costs, or anything," Harrison said.

Taxpayers in Johnston County are now paying to house illegal immigrant Luciano Tellez.

He's no stranger to the U.S. legal system, having been arrested two times in Wake County for DWI.

Harrison says his agency does not have access to the federal database to see who's here legally and who's not.

Tellez is accused of slamming his car into Jerry Braswell's semi rig Sunday night in Johnston County.

Braswell and his 9-year-old son, Jerry Jr., died at the scene.

Harrison provides a list of suspected illegal immigrants to federal officials on a regular basis.

But the sheriff says the federal officials rarely do anything about it.
NBC17 made repeated calls to the local immigrations and customs office but those calls were not returned.

In the past, the agency has said it's strapped for resources and tries to focus its deportation efforts on violent criminals or people who pose national security threats.

http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn...3-08-0007.html

Friday, March 24, 2006Wake County Sheriff: Donnie Harrison

Home: 7905 Fogleman Lane, Garner

Age: 60

Family: Two daughters, Paula Harrison Garner and Angela Harrison Bass; two grandchildren.

Education: Bear Grass High School; N. C. Highway Patrol Academy

Occupation: Wake County Sheriff

Political Experience: Wake County Sheriff (elected 2002); also ran for Sheriff in 1998

Political Affiliation: Republican

Community Involvement: Holland United Methodist Church member; former volunteer fireman; high school and college basketball referee; coached girls softball teams; volunteer canine search and rescue handler.

Top priorities if elected: “To continue to protect and serve the citizens of Wake County and to provide them with the best law enforcement services available.”

If you could solve one problem in your community and/or district, what would it be? “Because some parents do not take responsibility for their children, young people turn to drugs and gangs to build self-esteem and find the so-called family they so desperately want and need.

Drug trafficking and gangs account for much of the crime we have in Wake County. By selling drugs, gangs finance their activities and entice teenagers and even elementary students with the promise of easy money. Who cares if you rip off a convenience store or break into someone’s home just because you need money to buy drugs or show you can hang with the local gang?

Well I care. I will continue to have zero tolerance for drugs and gangs. Our Intel Unit will continue to monitor gang activity. Our STOP and IMPACT teams will continue with drug interdiction and working high crime areas where gangs proliferate.

But we need parents to help us protect our children from those who would steal their childhoods and their futures. If we could make parents spend more time with their children, love them and discipline them, then our children would not seek love and acceptance from gangs or find good feelings getting high off drugs.
Young people tell me that they want discipline because that means their parents care.

We are committed — we do not want to lose one child — but it all starts at home.”

Political hero: Ronald Regan

Name a book, movie or piece of art that has inspired you the most and explain why. “Let’s Take Back Our Streets by Chief Reuben Greenberg. Chief Greenberg and I have the same philosophy about law enforcement.”

How to contact: Telephone, 856-7565; web site: donnieharrison.org; email, donnie@donnieharrison.org

Posted at 06:25 pm by Ryan Teague Beckwith in Wake County Races
| Permalink

Don't you folks in Wake think it's time Harrison learned about Immigration and Customs Enforcement program called 287-G?

Jim posted his email above. If he'd got off his ass when he took office in 2002 this father and son might be alive today.