Thread: NC: Raleigh robberies targeting Hispanics

Published: Mar 22, 2008 12:30 AM
Modified: Mar 22, 2008 03:05 AM

Raleigh robberies targeting Hispanics

Thomasi McDonald, Staff Writer
RALEIGH - Police have distributed hundreds of posters warning residents about a rash of armed robberies targeting Hispanics in the downtown district.

The flier from the Raleigh Police Department's robbery squad says multiple robberies have occurred over several months.

Tony Asion, executive director of the statewide Latino advocacy group El Pueblo, said there have been more than 30 robberies. Asion, a former Delaware State Police officer who became head of El Pueblo this month, said many Latinos, especially ones here illegally, distrust police and are reluctant to report crime.

"We've had several cases where the victims call here," he said. "We try to get them to call the police, and they don't want to for fear of being deported."

Asion described a growing distrust among Latinos statewide and blamed it on a program in which the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency works with local law enforcement to combat illegal immigration.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole touted the Senate's approval of an amendment she offered to provide more money to help local law enforcement agencies "apprehend, identify and remove criminal illegal aliens." The amendment would provide an additional $75 million.

About a half-dozen North Carolina counties, including Mecklenburg and Alamance, have already partnered with ICE.

Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison announced this year that his office was also seeking resources to implement the program, but they have not yet been approved by the federal government. This year, if the sheriff's office is approved, ICE will provide training and equipment, while the sheriff's office will provide the manpower to ferret out illegal immigrants in custody at the Wake County jail.

Asion said many in the Latino community have no problem with law enforcement deporting convicted felons and people found guilty of driving while impaired. But he says Latinos who are here illegally also are being deported for minor offenses, such as driving without a license.

"Our position here is that they should check a person's immigration status after they have been convicted, not before," Asion said.

Asion said the program has bred distrust and fear of the police among Latinos, leading to the underreporting of crime in their communities and elsewhere. Asion said Latinos will also refuse to report crimes that they may witness, including those that affect the wider community.

"I worked for 20 years as a cop with the Delaware State Police," he said. "It took us a long time to gain the trust of Latinos in Delaware. Now we are watching something that took years to gain go south in a matter of weeks."

Raleigh police officials could not be reached for comment Friday about the downtown robberies or the reluctance of Hispanics to report crimes.

Harrison thinks some Hispanic leaders are resorting to "scare tactics" about the partnership with ICE and said his concern is to apply the law fairly to avoid the distrust Asion talks about.

"I think everybody should be fed out of the same spoon," Harrison said Friday. "You can't pick and choose which laws that are violated [will lead to deportation]."

In addition, Harrison said, "If people aren't reporting these crimes, then why are people finding out about it?"

Asion said Latinos are easy targets for robberies because of how they keep their money. Asion said many are not comfortable with banks and either carry large amounts of money because they do not know the people they are living with or leave large amounts of cash at home, becoming targets for home invasion robberies.

That's what happened last month east of downtown when a masked gunman crashed through the apartment door of Carlos Humberto Martinez, who dreamed of moving back to Honduras one day and owning a farm. The gunman demanded cash and then shot Martinez, 24, to death.

Asion pointed to future troubles unless fences are mended between Latinos and the police.

"The sad part is, if the police don't regain the trust of the people, then pseudo-police force could take place, especially among the youth," Asion said. " 'Call us, and we'll take care of it.' But then the gang that starts out taking care of the neighborhood ends up going out of control."

(News researcher Lamara Williams contributed to this report.)

thomasi.mcdonald@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-4533

http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1009249.html

if this is true and illegals are getting targeted and robbed they need to move back to mexico. call me sceptical, but i doubt this is true, at least in the numbers (unsubstantiated) they are saying. also what about all the Americans that have been raped and killed at the hands of illegals. this sounds more like larasa bleeding heart propaganda.

Its the job of the police to deal with criminals. If they are here illegally, they are criminals. The police says there are multiple crimes. The head of an illegal alien support group says 30. Dont sound like big numbers considering all the crimes in Raleigh every day. And anyway, the police wont deport you if you report a crime, so that shouldnt deter anyone. If anything, thats the message the illegal alien support group should be getting out to the community...

"Asion said many in the Latino community have no problem with law enforcement deporting convicted felons and people found guilty of driving while impaired. But he says Latinos who are here illegally also are being deported for minor offenses, such as driving without a license. "

This is excellent and hope we see much much more of it here in NC. Oh and by the way Asion you're a joke and a jerk. Have a nice day.

"Asion said many in the Latino community have no problem with law enforcement deporting convicted felons and people found guilty of driving while impaired. But he says Latinos who are here illegally also are being deported for minor offenses, such as driving without a license. "

Once again, the illegal alien community picking and choosing what laws should and should not be enforced. They ALL should be enforced!!!

But he says Latinos who are here illegally also are being deported for minor offenses, such as driving without a license

.

As you say....THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!!!! The right thing to do... enforce the law!!!!!!!!!!!

"The sad part is, if the police don't regain the trust of the people, then pseudo-police force could take place, especially among the youth," Asion said. " 'Call us, and we'll take care of it.' But then the gang that starts out taking care of the neighborhood ends up going out of control."

Now that is reverse psychology and a form of intimidation--i.e. ignore immigration status or we will self-police with gangs.

Do not forget, pro-illegal immigration groups are giving illegal immigrants classes about remaining silent when dealing with police or ICE--don't co-operate or even provide your name and so forth. Such groups are eroding formation of police--illegal immigrant trust.

We do not chose between the lesser of two evils or bargin with our laws, we obey and enforce the law.

"Evil unchecked grows. Evil tolerated poisons the whole system."
Jawaharlal Nehru

Asion said many in the Latino community have no problem with law enforcement deporting convicted felons and people found guilty of driving while impaired. But he says Latinos who are here illegally also are being deported for minor offenses, such as driving without a license.

"Latinos who are here illegally" are CRIMINALS TOO. And driving without a license is a another crime. That makes 2 laws that were broken. Comprendo?

Why is it that Hispanic's think they can obey some laws, yet other laws dont pertain to them?

Last crime stats I saw for Raleigh 2006 were 782 robberies and 1,325 aggravated assaults.

Looks like everybody's being targeted to me.

RALEIGH - Police have distributed hundreds of posters warning residents about a rash of armed robberies targeting Hispanics in the downtown district.

The flier from the Raleigh Police Department's robbery squad says multiple robberies have occurred over several months.

How ironic. Hispanics become the alleged targets of crime and the police jump through hoops to get the word out.

However thousands of American Citizens are victimized by hispanics who are illegal invaders and the police do nothing!

Nice to see where their loyalties lie.