Thread: Tancredo blames killings on lax policies

Tancredo blames killings on lax policies
By Angela Delli Santi
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 08/20/2007 04:18:33 PM MDT

Newark, N.J. — Presidential candidate Tom Tancredo is urging the families of three young murder victims to consider suing the city of Newark for negligence, saying its lax immigration policy is at least partially to blame for the execution-style slayings.

The conservative Republican congressman from Colorado brought his immigration-themed campaign to the steps of Newark City Hall today, where he denounced the city's policy of not involving itself in immigration matters.

"I am encouraging the families of the victims to pursue the option of a lawsuit, in light of this culpability," Tancredo said, criticizing Newark's status as a so-called "sanctuary city" for immigrants.

Newark, like many other cities including Los Angeles and Chicago, does not require police officers to check the immigration status of those they arrest or to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities. Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said today that immigration officials are typically notified when an illegal immigrant is convicted.

In the case of Jose Carranza, one of six suspects in the Newark killings, federal authorities were never told about the illegal Peruvian immigrant despite two prior brushes with the law. He was indicted twice this year on charges of child rape and aggravated assault but was released on bail both times, even though he was in this country illegally.

Mayor Cory Booker, who has said involving city police in immigration matters would hurt the relationship between police and the immigrant community, repeated that contention today, citing the conclusions of a Clinton administration study on the issue.

"Local law-enforcement officials should not be going out asking, inquiring and investigating whether people are documented or undocumented," Booker said. He said such behavior "creates a chill in which often the most marginalized and vulnerable citizens in my city do not feel comfortable engaging with the police. It's an environment I will never tolerate as mayor."

Booker then criticized Tancredo's efforts to inflame the community.

"We do not want people coming into our community and exploiting our pain for political advantage," Booker said at a news conference today.

http://www.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_6671679

I hate to say this Tom..........but the Democratic members of the HOUSE and SENATE are to blame also.

Why won't they pass the legislation requiring ALL STATES to participate in 287g.

Why won't they pass the legislation against sanctuary states,cities and towns?

This is definitely what needs to happen. Families of victims of illegal immigration need to SUE. We need lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit.

Make them accountable...all of them. The cities, law enforcement, and the government.