Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Santa Clarita Ca
    Posts
    9,714

    The War Out There

    http://www.newspapertree.com/view_artic ... 9e1df74ca6


    The War Out There
    by NPT Staff




    Activist Carl Starr has filed a lawsuit against the El Paso County Sheriffs Department for what he called a violation of Fourth Amendment rights, while others say racial profiling to find immigrants has become standard. [lawsuit]

    Starr's lawsuit alleges that he was on a public El Paso County bus on March 21, heading from El Paso to Fort Hancock. He states that sheriff's deputies stopped the bus, telling the driver he had touched the white lane divider on the road.

    "Plaintiff did not notice driver cross line," Starr's lawsuit states. The deputy asked for identification, but did not require Starr to show it, the lawsuit states.

    "Deputy then asked six remaining passengers seated towards rear of bus if they had ID and said Papers, ID and the six said No/shook heads," states the lawsuit. The six were taken off the bus. "Plaintiff does not know what became of the six," the lawsuit states.

    Starr is asking a judge to enjoin El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego from spending "Operation Linebacker" funds. Those are monies that were given to border sheriffs, who have said their workloads are increasing because of increased smuggling.

    A sheriff's department spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit in a KFOX TV report on the issue May 26. [kfox]

    In that report, the television station quoted San Elizario resident Ray Carrillo as saying that when he was stopped at a sheriff's department checkpoint, "they were asking for driver's license first, insurance next, and then if you have any papers. I am a U.S. citizen."

    A couple of days earlier (May 24), KTSM TV aired a report that in which Horizon City residents said they had been asked for proof of citizenship at checkpoints.

    "A spokesman for the sheriff says investigations proved those allegations unfounded, but Father Ralph Solis says he sees the proof every Sunday at his church," stated a report on the stations web site. [ktsm]

    "What their investigation turned up I don't know, but I do know all the people that have come to me and told me in tears that they won't come to church anymore because of the checkpoints," Father Solis was quoted as saying.

    Sheriff's department spokesman Rick Glancey told KFOX, "We are not involved in immigration law. We are here strictly trying to enforce Texas law," and KTSM reported that the sheriff's department claimed an investigation did not substantiate the Horizon City charges.

    The issue has attracted statewide attention.

    Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, sent Texas Gov. Rick Perry a letter El Paso questioning Samaniego's use of the "Operation Linebacker" funds, which totaled $376,500. Statewide, the monies totaled $10 million, split among the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition.

    "Hinojosa expressed concern that people are being detained in both the roadblocks and the raids on a hunch that they "look" illegal. He said some residents have even complained that they were asked for a Social Security card as a tactic to figure out whether they were illegal immigrants," stated a May 23 Associated Press story out of El Paso. [article]

    Glancey, the coalition's interim executive director and Samaniego's spokesman, dismissed Hinojosa's letter as politically motivated because Samaniego, a Democrat, supported Republican Dee Margo against incumbent state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, reported the Associated Press.

    "The Sheriff's Department of El Paso has no legal authority to engage in immigration enforcement. While our nation must engage in border security and enforce immigration laws, the appropriate authorities are federal authorities, in particular the Border Patrol. What the Sheriff is asking deputies to do is engage in enforcement action for which they have no authority and exposing them to serious liabilities, both civil and criminal," stated Shapleigh's Web site, which noted that "In Texas, racial profiling like that is illegal under the penal code. We have asked the Governor to stop using state funds for racial profiling." [web site]

    One of the 16 border sheriffs took a stand against the El Paso County roadblocks. In a McAllen Monitor story May 27, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño touted a new policy, modeled after one in Houston, that states: "Deputies shall not make inquiries as to the citizenship status of any person, nor will deputies detain or arrest persons solely on the belief that they are in this country illegally." [article]

    The article states that the sheriff "wanted to make the department’s position unmistakable, even if it’s a well-accepted practice among most law enforcement agencies."

    "If we deviate from this, we put ourselves in a litigious position," he was quoted as saying. "Everybody is offered equal protection under the law.

    "That’s what makes this country so great."

    * * *
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  2. #2
    Senior Member crazybird's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Joliet, Il
    Posts
    10,175
    I'm sorry.....but when the vast majority of illegal immigrants are mexican it's common sense to wonder about their legality. If those that are here legally had put forth more effort to assimilate and learn English maybe their group might not stick out like a sore thumb. But they didn't. Just like the majority of terrorists are from a certain group, it's common sense to question them. No, not ALL are, but it's a darn good way to get your hands on MOST of them.

    It doesn't appear these mexicans were abused or even detained. Just asked.

    What ever happened to "blend in"? Abide by the law etc. If you set yourself up as a "special" group then it's like flashing a neon sign to me. Then when you notice how "special" they are, they cry the blues coz you noticed.
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  3. #3
    Senior Member AmericanElizabeth's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    +2342 Hero Elite plus
    Posts
    4,758
    Well, if they had not come here illegally, then they would not have to be worried.

    And.....it is not racial profiling if they are in the SW and checking people who do look like they may be illegals, that are of Latino descent. If and American Latino citizen is asked, and they love this country, they would obviously not only be able to produce documents to prove they are Americans, but would not be offended, and understand.

    If it were me being asked because I was of the ethnic group that most frequently comes here illegally, I would be alright with being asked. You know why? I love this country and I want it protected and defended and a little inconvenience of showing ID occassionally to police and what not, is a small price to pay to make America secure and safe again.
    "In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, Brave, Hated, and Scorned. When his cause succeeds however,the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a Patriot." Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Lone Star State of Chaos
    Posts
    671
    As I understand it the 'roadblocks' are usually for drivers licenses and insurance.

    The cost to Texas drivers due to uninsured mexican drivers is thru the roof...We have to pay MORE for insurance b/c they won't follow the law and buy insurance...even those born here, native here, refuse to follow the law. The law, to them is a mere suggestion...not a real honest to goodness law.

    As far as the incident of people taken off a bus...that was a bit garbled...since when is law enforcement not allowed to search for suspects?

    Law enforcement does have the ability to detain those who are here illegally...I mean...Texas is NOT a sanctuary state...Houston is and Dallas and Austin are sanctuary cities...to their great shame.

    This is just nonsense....harrassment of people doing their jobs.

    MJ

  5. #5
    Senior Member Mamie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sweet Home Alabama
    Posts
    2,587
    "The Sheriff's Department of El Paso has no legal authority to engage in immigration enforcement. While our nation must engage in border security and enforce immigration laws, the appropriate authorities are federal authorities, in particular the Border Patrol. What the Sheriff is asking deputies to do is engage in enforcement action for which they have no authority and exposing them to serious liabilities, both civil and criminal," stated Shapleigh's Web site, which noted that "In Texas, racial profiling like that is illegal under the penal code. We have asked the Governor to stop using state funds for racial profiling."
    there is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits local or state law enforcement from enforcing federal law. In fact, the oath of office for state legislatures IS to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I'm not sure about the oath of a Sheriff but it would seem like it would be the same
    "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it" George Santayana "Deo Vindice"

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •