Thread: Tenn - Dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants

Dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants


Posted: 6:21 PM Feb 17, 2009
Last Updated: 6:27 PM Feb 17, 2009
Reporter: Stephen McLamb
Email Address: Stephen.McLamb@wvlt-tv.com



Dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants




Investigators are trying to find out if a man suspected of trying to abduct a Sevierville child is an illegal alien.

42 year old Gustavo Reyes remains in the Sevier County Jail on a one million dollar bond.

If he is illegal, his alleged crime becomes just the latest in a string of violent crimes where an illegal immigrant is the suspect.

22 year old Julio Enrique Fernandez is charged with murdering 17 year old Melissa Foster last November.

Valentino Miranda is accused of killing 21 year old Jenny Hampton inside a west Knoxville motel.

And in 2007, Armando Gonzalez was sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting child workers at the Dixie Stampede in 2007.

Make no mistake about it, it's not just illegal immigrants committing violent crimes in east Tennessee.

But, when they do commit crimes, authorities say they're often much tougher to catch.

"I want to help fight, keep them people that don't belong here out of here," says Regina Parslow, whose grandaughter was the victim in an attempted kidnapping.

While authorities are still sorting out the legal status of Gustavo Reyes, Regina Parslow believes the man charged with the attempted kidnapping of her grandaughter at a Sevierville flea market on Sunday is illegal.

The area has seen a string of illegals committing crimes then fleeing the area.

"He had many alias', many. Many different birthdays, many different ID cards," says Bridgit McMahan.

McMahan's family was victimized by Armando Gonzalez who was convicted of molesting children at Dixie Stampede where he worked.

But he was on the run for more than a year.

Prosecutors say catching illegals after they've fled can present problems because they don't leave trails with social security numbers or use banks.

Sevier County Chief Assistant District Attorney General Steve Hawkins says, "A lot of times they don't use credit cards or have bank accounts that you can trace some fugitives by when they use their ATM machines or get money out of banks and they have their own community which helps them."

Melissa Foster was found dead at a Sevierville apartment last November. Julio Enrique Fernandez was indicted but fled to North Carolina where he's now fighting extradition.

Family members of these victims say the federal government isn't doing enough.

"Don't come over here without trying to get your visa," says Teresa Hinton, whose daughter was allegedly murdered by an illegal.

McMahan says, "If they're decent people and want to be legal and work and pay taxes, that' fine. Then if not, I think they should go back home."

An east Tennessee attorney who has represented illegals at hearings says, if every illegal left tomorrow, the crime rate would not change significantly.

May not be comforting words for the victims of these cases.

One other note, Bridgit McMahan says an out of court legal settlement has been reached in her lawsuit against the Dixie Stampede.

But McMahan says her daughter still has issues dealing from the ordeal.

http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/39748017.html

An east Tennessee attorney who has represented illegals at hearings says, if every illegal left tomorrow, the crime rate would not change significantly.

Horse crap! And, from what I have read Nashville wants to make the city more inviting to "immigrants"?

An east Tennessee attorney who has represented illegals at hearings says, if every illegal left tomorrow, the crime rate would not change significantly.

I can't believe this moron even opened his/her mouth and let that stupidity fall out.

An east Tennessee attorney who has represented illegals at hearings says, if every illegal left tomorrow, the crime rate would not change significantly.

LOL Does he go on to say his source of income WOULD!