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Commission offers help with illegals
Officer's slaying spurs talk of county's role in crime fight
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
By DAVID HOLDEN
Times Staff Writer dholden@htimes.com
Madison County commissioners said Monday that they want to explore ways to help local law enforcement agencies deal with crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

Commissioner Mo Brooks asked the commission to discuss the problem in the wake of "the execution-style murder" of Huntsville police officer Daniel Golden in August.

While answering a domestic violence call at Jalisco, a Mexican grocery and restaurant at 2648 Jordan Lane, Golden was shot to death. Police say Benito Albarran stood over Golden and fired two shots into his face. Albarran, an illegal immigrant, is charged with capital murder. If convicted, Albarran, 31, would face life in prison without parole or execution by lethal injection

There have been numerous other problems, Brooks said, including the death of four people in a May wreck at Plummer Road and Research Park Boulevard that police say was caused by an illegal immigrant. Rufo Martinez-Ruiz is charged with four counts of vehicular homicide as a result of that wreck.

Commissioners aren't sure exactly what they can do, but they plan to discuss their options in more detail at their meeting on Dec. 5.

"Right now, there are a lot more questions than answers," Commissioner Faye Dyer said.

Points of discussion at Monday's meeting included looking into whether the law would allow the county to require proof of citizenship before issuing a business license; whether the county could revoke a business license if the owner is found to employ illegal immigrants; and whether local officials could verify Social Security numbers.

Sheriff Blake Dorning and Huntsville Police Chief Rex Reynolds have discussed training for local police officers and deputies to identify illegal immigrants, Dyer said.

Local law enforcement officers now have no power to arrest immigrants for being in the United States illegally, Dorning said.

Fewer than 50 Alabama state troopers have received training from the Department of Homeland Security and have the authority to arrest illegal immigrants, according to a statement from Gov. Bob Riley's office. Beyond federal authorities, only state police in Alabama, Florida and Arkansas have been granted that power.

Since the program began in Alabama in 2003, troopers have arrested 150 illegal immigrants, according to Riley's office. Many had previous criminal convictions for armed robbery, rape, drug smuggling, illegal possession of firearms and Social Security fraud. Some have even been previously deported.

Dorning said the primary focus for local officers would be to spot fraudulent documents held by illegal immigrants involved in criminal enterprises.

Reynolds has said the training should involve having more officers learn to speak Spanish.

In other action Monday, the commission:

Appointed Huntsville lawyer Mark McDaniel to the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority board.

Endorsed the activities of Citizens for a Better Gurley in a resolution. The group is protesting a rock quarry planned by Madison Materials Inc. outside Gurley's city limits, said Commissioner Jerry Craig.