Group Sees Link In Crime, Sheriff's Immigration Stance
Hispanics Targeted By Criminals, Neighbors Say
POSTED: 3:03 pm EDT July 16, 2010
UPDATED: 4:21 pm EDT July 16, 2010
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HAMILTON, Ohio --


A civil rights group has linked a fatal beating of a Hispanic man to the anti-illegal immigration policies of Butler County's sheriff.

Police said 44-year-old Samuel Baez-Rosa, of Hamilton, was fatally beaten Wednesday night during a robbery and his roommate, Alejandro Ramirez, was assaulted as he tried to help.

Neighbors said robbers are targeting Hispanics because many of them are illegal immigrants and are afraid to report crimes to the police there.

"We are highly concerned about this correlation between Sheriff (Richard) Jones' immigration tactics and the rise in crimes against Latinos," said Jason Riveiro, Ohio director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Read The Group's Statement

Police are looking for a man and woman who beat the two men and robbed them, and LULAC has promised to take action in response to the case.

"Regardless of the motivation of this crime, we will be announcing a major response next week," Riveiro said in a statement.

Jones has been outspoken about illegal immigration and has urged Ohio legislators to pass a bill similar to a controversial Arizona law.

Under the Arizona law, legal immigrants would be required to carry documents to prove their status and law enforcement officers would be required to check the legal status of anyone they suspect of being undocumented.

Police are urging witnesses to come forward and assured them that their names would not be passed on to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, even if they were here illegally.

Hamilton police have asked anyone with information to call 513-868-5811.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/24286799/detail.html