Thread: Illegal aliens travel in the Valley

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyi ... 39175.html

By Jeff Pikulsky
VALLEY INDEPENDENT
Saturday, April 1, 2006

NORTH BELLE VERNON - While the presence of illegal immigrants in the United States continues to make news nationally, some Mid-Mon Valley police chiefs say the interstate that runs through their communities is a major artery for aliens traveling the East Coast.

The U.S. House and Senate are split, currently debating the nation's immigration and border security laws.

Most recently on a local level, North Belle Vernon police and a number of assisting agencies dealt with a van filled with illegal immigrants who became stranded at the Sunoco gas station on Fayette Avenue on March 16.

According to a North Belle Vernon police, the Mexican men accidentally filled their vehicle with diesel fuel, rendering it inoperable.

Sixteen immigrants traveling in the van were released after U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service agents decided they were not a threat.

The men told police they were headed to New Jersey to work. They had already been stopped in Indiana and ordered to appear in court once they arrived at their destination.
North Belle Vernon Police Chief James Bedsworth said some of the immigrants caused a minor disturbance in the store, but the group did not cause serious problems.

However, Bedsworth said that while the presence of illegal aliens in his community is discovered only once of twice a year, it is a growing concern.

"If we went out there and looked for it, we could probably make it a weekly occurrence," the chief said.

"If these people can get in so easily, then what's to stop others? I hate to even guess how many come through here that we don't see.

"Interstate 70 and the turnpike are like major trafficways through here between Mexico and Arizona and New Jersey or New York."

Rostraver Township Police Chief Greg Resetar said his department recalled "a few incidents" in the last five years involving illegal immigrants.

He said the problem raises concerns but cannot be actively policed on a municipal level because most cases arise from traffic stops or witness reports.

"With the homeland security, we don't know who is who or what is what anymore," Resetar said. "It's hit and miss; you just kind of come in contact with them through your patrols. It's nothing you can watch for."

Resetar said his officers discovered a van with 18 Mexicans illegally traveling from Mexico to New York along Interstate 70 about two years ago.

In that case, the aliens had no criminal records, so the INS instructed the police to let them go.

Resetar said that usually is the case.

"If they're not wanted for any crimes or anything, normally there's nothing anything we can do," he said.

"That's the problem. They don't deport them. Nine times out of 10, we're releasing them because they aren't wanted for anything."

Aside from enacting more serious penalties, Resetar said the problem should be addressed at the source.

"I think that they need to pay closer attention at the borders," he said. "I don't think granting them amnesty is the answer, though."

Some federal officials believe illegal aliens already in the United States should be allowed to stay or even be granted citizenship.

Southwest Regional Police Chief John Hartman said he has seen about a half dozen cases in the six years on the job in the Mon Valley. He said one instance involved a van with 15 immigrants hiding inside.

Hartman's department covers Belle Vernon Borough, which is located along Interstate 70, a route he says illegal immigrants use to travel through the area.

"We've found them in the bars in Belle Vernon," Hartman said. "The ones that I encountered were not providing a classical security threat. They were in violation of INS laws, but the reason they were here is to work."

Hartman is certified through the state terrorist awareness program to train residents about indicators of terrorist activity.

He said that while the presence of illegal immigrants is not directly related to terrorism, it does raise concerns about the nation's vulnerability years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"Do I think that the immigrant workers that we pick up in the Mid-Mon Valley represent the same threat as al Qaida? No." Hartman said.

"They're not the same people.

"Could they represent the same threat? Sure they could. I think this day and age that we should step up the penalties for being in this country illegally.

"I think there are always going to be vulnerabilities because of the nature of what this country represents. If there's a hole in the system that's letting that many people in, you've got to plug the hole. Anything we do right now helps us."

Jeff Pikulsky can be reached at jpikulsky@tribweb.com.

I wonder what happened to the no more "catch and release" policy that they were going to implement. That didn't last long did it!

Originally Posted by Darlene

I wonder what happened to the no more "catch and release" policy that they were going to implement. That didn't last long did it!

Did it even start?