Thread: Invaders bellyache about U. S. laws, as usual

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp ... 3000.story

Immigrants contend with the law
A proposed state law would give local police the authority to detain illegal immigrants stopped for minor crimes, including traffic violations.

September 17, 2005
Fifth in a five-part series

BY LAURA MCCANDLISH AND CAROL SCOTT

lmccandlish@dailypress.com 247-4991

cscott@dailypress.com 247-5686

He has no choice now but to break the law.

A Mexican immigrant {invader/criminal} who would give only his first name, Efrain, came to Williamsburg as a legal guest worker, with a Mexican passport and an international driver's license. For months now, Efrain has repeatedly applied for a Virginia driver's license, to no avail. {Good}

But he has to drive his van each night to his second job at Paul's Deli, from which he often gets off at 2 a.m. It wouldn't be safe to walk back to the Best Western on Richmond Road, where he lives and works a day job.

"Every time I see the police, I'm scared," Efrain said. "When they have stopped me, they think my car is stolen, since I don't have all the papers. I've been coming to Williamsburg for three years now and always have the same problem." {Why hasn't this bum been deported yet?}

A Virginia law requiring all driver's license applicants to prove that they are here legally - either as a U.S. citizen or with a valid visa - took effect in 2004. When applying for a license, the applicant must now present at least four documents: two identification documents, one proof of legal immigration and one proof of Virginia residency. If an applicant has a Social Security number, proof of that is required. International driver's licenses are not considered a valid ID.

While Hispanic immigrants {again we are talking about invaders/criminals who have no right to be in this country} struggle to get driver's licenses, they could also face increased police surveillance. During the next General Assembly session, Del. Dave Albo, R-Springfield, expects to introduce legislation to give local police the authority to check the immigration status of people arrested for low-level crimes - including traffic violations - and to detain those who lack legal status while reporting them to the federal government.

"Anytime someone is lawfully stopped, whether for a traffic ticket or murder, my proposal would give police the ability to detain that person for violation of immigration laws," Albo said. "It would be a secondary offense, just as you can't be stopped for not wearing a seat belt alone. It doesn't allow police to go nab people walking down the street."

Currently, police officers inquire about immigration status only in the case of a felony or violent crime. Some officers complain that to go beyond that would greatly strain their resources and manpower.

"We've got more important things to do," said Virginia Beach Sgt. Lenny Reyes, the president of Hampton Roads' chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers. "We need to establish trust with the community and dialogue. It would just be another mandate, where we would look at money and manpower issues." {Gee where have we heard this bunch of huey before?}

Maj. Stan Stout, spokesman for the James City County Police, agreed that such action would require additional manpower.

"But we'll do what's required," Stout said. "It's definitely a problem, and we're going to abide by the law, whatever it is at the time."

The police departments in Williamsburg and James City now realize the need to learn Spanish and set policies for dealing with the immigration status of Hispanic suspects. That wasn't the case three years ago. {Illegals need to be deported, not coddled}

When Maria Contreras first came back to Williamsburg from El Salvador in 2002, she had just left work at La Tolteca and was running late to pick up her daughter, Mariassella, from a baby sitter before 11 p.m., and she got pulled over for a speeding ticket.

"Please, it's not my fault," she said. "Please, I need to talk to someone who speaks Spanish."

But no police speak Spanish here, the James City County officer told her.

Three years later, Williamsburg Deputy Police Chief Dave Sloggie said the department still doesn't have Spanish speakers at their station. If his officers do need to communicate in Spanish, they ask a Spanish-speaking officer at the College of William and Mary for help.

"Once a month is probably too high," Sloggie said, when asked how often Williamsburg officers need a translator. "It comes up from time to time, but we're not maintaining any statistics on it."

The James City County Police Department just put its policy on illegal immigrants in place in March. This new policy was prompted by the case of Oswaldo Martinez, the mute and deaf Salvadoran immigrant charged with the rape and murder of a 16-year-old James City girl in January. The James City police now typically encounter one or two Spanish speakers a day.

"Officers of this department shall not stop, detain, question or arrest anyone suspected of being an illegal alien solely on the ground that the individual may be a deportable alien," the new policy reads. "Only federal officers may enforce immigration and naturalization laws." {Wrong enforcing the law is every officers job. Stop making excuses and do your job}

If U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirms that the person is an illegal immigrant and has been convicted of a felony here, then any law enforcement officer can arrest that person, without a warrant.

This year, Virginia State Police Trooper M.A. Cotton, whose coverage area includes Williamsburg and James City County, started co-teaching a two-day course on Hispanic cultures that all troopers and sergeants are required to take. Cotton, who is of Mexican descent, has also taught "Survival Spanish" to troopers since 1998.

She co-wrote the Spanish-to-English phonetic book that all Virginia troopers carry after completing the class.

"If they read it, they'll be reading it in English, but it sounds Spanish," Cotton said. "They're communicating."

But fear of law enforcement and misunderstandings about their rights persist among the Hispanic community in Williamsburg and James City and across the state.

"Sometimes you've got a car full of eight or 10 of them that are coming back from a job," Cotton said. "They're afraid that they're going to be deported." {Good}

"Please, it's not my fault," she said. "Please, I need to talk to someone who speaks Spanish."

Then go back to YOUR country.

Originally Posted by nhantimassredrebel

"Please, it's not my fault," she said. "Please, I need to talk to someone who speaks Spanish."

Then go back to YOUR country.

AMEN!