Thread: NC-Immigration officials launch anti-gang unit in Charlotte

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Immigration officials launch anti-gang unit in Charlotte

06:12 PM EDT on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

By RAD BERKY / NewsChannel 36
E-mail Rad: RBerky@WCNC.com

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Just one year after a massive roundup in Charlotte of suspected members of the violent MS-13 gang, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to launch its first anti-gang unit in North Carolina.

The gang unit will be headquartered in Charlotte, said Delbert Richburg, the ICE assistant special agent in charge. "We've definitely seen an increase in gang activity in North Carolina and particularly in Charlotte."

The new unit will conduct "surge operations" -- lightning-fast raids -- as well as long-term raids. "We're focusing on gang members on a day-to-day basis," said Richburg. "We're going to run operations that will disrupt and dismantle them."

In many of Charlotte's Hispanic neighborhoods, it is hard to find people who are not afraid to talk openly about the gangs and the violence that follows them.

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Robert Hernandez has lived here for years. He thinks young teens are drawn to the gangs when they come to the United States and find life here is not always the dream they thought it would be.

"Sometimes they can't find a job," he said. "This is bad. There is no reason for the gangs."

One edge the ICE unit will have is that ICE agents enforce immigration law. That means agents could take steps to get gang members sent home.

"If we don't have criminal charges we will be looking to put them in removal proceedings and deport gang members," said Richburg.

The new gang unit will be up and running in Charlotte in October


http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/ ... 8175a.html

Couldn't be soon enough!

Immigration & Customs Enforcement sets permanent anti-gang unit in Charlotte

Posted: July 29, 2009 09:53 PM CDT

Updated: July 30, 2009 02:14 PM CDT

New I.C.E gang unit



By Molly Grantham

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Immigration and Customs Enforcement is setting up a permanent anti-gang unit in Charlotte. The Asst. Special Agent in Charge of North Carolina says he can't say how many agents will be a part of the unit, but that manpower focusing on gangs in Charlotte will be "at least tripled".

When asked why Charlotte needs a permanent ICE anti-gang unit, Delbert Richburg says that Charlotte, like many big cities, is seeing a growing activity in gangs.

"I think Charlotte is a much smaller Atlanta," Richburg said. "Atlanta as you know has been a hub for trafficking. Atlanta has become the old Miami. And with that, I think Charlotte has seen an increase in drugs coming through this area as well."

These Immigration and Customs enforcement agents will be going after gang members who are also illegal immigrants. They'll also be able to charge and, if needed, deport legal residents who have become gang members.

http://www.wbtv.com/global/story.asp?s=10815608