Thread: FL: Sheriff, Representative trade barbs over rape case

Sheriff, Representative trade barbs over rape case

Last Edited: Monday, 25 Aug 2008, 5:37 PM EDT
Created: Monday, 25 Aug 2008, 5:37 PM EDT



TAMPA - It's a war of words between U.S. Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite and Hillsborough Sheriff David Gee.

Brown-Waite questions why an illegal immigrant was released from jail.

Later, he was linked to a number of violent crimes, including a home invasion, a robbery, and several sexual assaults.

"I would call it naive to be releasing these violent individuals back into our community," Brown-Waite told FOX 13.

Rigoberto Moron Martinez was in jail for on misdemeanor charges. Sheriff Gee said they had no way of knowing he was involved in those other crimes.

But Gee said, Martinez told deputies he was born in Mexico. They knew there was a potential he was illegal. The Sheriff's Office notified ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but they didn't pick Martinez up and he bonded out.

"I'm always amazed when someone in Congress wakes up and realizes there's a problem that we've realized for the last 10 years," Gee said.

He said it's a bigger problem than Waite believes, but he doesn't blame ICE, he blames Congress.

"You've got to stop it at the border. You've got to at least stop the flow. This process is too cumbersome," he offered.

Gee said ICE rarely picks up illegals on misdemeanors. There's just not enough detention facilities to detain them.

Roughly, 7,000 illegals come through his jail every year, and Gee says when they are deported, they often come back.

"I can't tell you how many people we arrest in this county, and they are deported only to be arrested again in this county. They cross the border again."

Brown-Waite has now asked U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill to investigate.

"To allow these people out there on the streets, if ICE isn't doing their job, then the U-S Attorney will find that out," she told FOX 13

www.myfoxtampabay.com

Rigoberto Moron Martinez

"You've got to stop it at the border. You've got to at least stop the flow. This process is too cumbersome," he offered.

He's been reading Sheriff Joe's Book . Thats Good

Brown-Waite has now asked U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill to investigate.

Damage Control ? Not really , she's p'ed . has an A+ with Numberusa so she does her thing .

primary election right now in her area . She's a Big Winner . No body comes close to her . She's a keeper in my book

Gee said ICE rarely picks up illegals on misdemeanors. There's just not enough detention facilities to detain them.

That's a practice that has to end. With all the aliases illegals utilize, it's diffult to uncover every criminal act from their past. IMO, whenever ICE refuses to pick up an identified illegal alien, they're negligent in the performance of their lawful duties!

Finish the damn fence and put soldiers on the border.