Thread: Jail for illegals facing drunken driving charges

Jail for illegals facing drunken driving charges
September 13, 2010 - 10:08am



WASHINGTON - Immigration officials now plan to incarcerate illegal aliens when they're arrested for drunken driving, WTOP has learned.

"The message has gone out to the field offices: Take them into custody, and don't let them out on bond," a high-ranking source within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tells WTOP.

The new, tougher policy comes after the death of a Catholic nun, allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant with previous drunken driving arrests in Prince William County. Carlos A. Martinelly Montano, an illegal immigrant from Bolivia, was involved in the Aug. 1 crash that killed Jeanette M. Mosier and seriously injured two other nuns in Bristow. Mosier was know in her Benedictine Order as Sister Denise Mosier.

After a 2008 drunken driving arrest, Montano, 23, had been detained by ICE but was released on his own recognizance, pending a deportation hearing. Mosier's death sparked outrage that Montano had not been in custody.

Earlier, ICE said Montano's previous alcohol-related arrests did not meet guidelines for detaining him.

"So even after a first DWI we have the authority to take him into custody. People in custody tend to go through the deportation process much faster," the ICE source said.

Prior to this change, under the Obama administration, ICE had focused on removing violent criminals from the country. Some, including Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert, had argued repeat drunken driving should be grounds for removal.

Last week, a Prince William grand jury indicted Montano for felony murder, driving with a revoked license and maiming resulting from drunken driving -- the first time Ebert has prosecuted felony murder based on DUI.

"The feeling is 'this should never happen again,'" says the ICE official. "The decision has been made to treat them like they would violent criminals."

Asked by WTOP to confirm details of the policy change, ICE spokesman Brian P. Hale issued a statement:

"ICE's highest priorities are apprehending and removing convicted criminal aliens, aliens who pose a danger to the community, and fugitive aliens. Aliens who are criminals, public safety threats, and fugitives are a main focus for the agency. That includes aliens convicted of DUI, particularly those already ordered to leave the country."

Even with the new policy, scarce space in ICE detention centers may mean not all impaired drivers will be taken into custody immediately.

"If you have a gang member and a first-time DUI and only one bed, you're going to keep the gang member in custody," the ICE source tells WTOP.


Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=2051253

well In my Book they should get the chair that the way it is not right they are all getting away with this rap.Murder it not fair do something so this will not Happen again ship them the hell Home

They don't need beds they need busses to the border and I would like to know why we have to have hearings on weather or not were going to deport these people only citizens are innocent till proven guilty they aren't citizens they don't have rights send them back

ICE's highest priorities are apprehending and removing convicted criminal aliens, aliens who pose a danger to the community, and fugitive aliens. Aliens who are criminals, public safety threats, and fugitives are a main focus for the agency. That includes aliens convicted of DUI, particularly those already ordered to leave the country."

So what they are saying is we already have open borders and are well on our way to the North American Union....

Go to Hell Ice "We the People" like our sovereignty and want our borders closed, and ALL immigration laws enforced that are in the " Immigration Nationality Act" of 1986 and 1996!! And we intent to fight politically for law enforcement and our country!

IMO This is just a sop to we the anti-IA crowd after they got hammered for their new policy of not accepting IAs committing "minor traffic violations."

Don't get me wrong though, I believe this should have been policy all along.

Related thread: http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-212023.html

Also Related

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-212188.html

They don't need beds they need busses to the border ....

That's what I say too. Line up the buses and drive them out!

that in all 50 states?