Thread: OCEANSIDE, CA WORKS TO HELP DEPORT ILLEGAL CRIMINALS

Oceanside works with feds to deport criminals living illegally in U.S.

By: DAVID STERRETT - Staff Writer
North County Times
January 21, 2007

OCEANSIDE, CA ---- Police Chief Frank McCoy said last week that working with federal immigration officials to deport gang members living illegally in the United States is one tool Oceanside utilizes to combat crime.

The issue surfaced earlier this month when Escondido police officials said they planned to step up efforts to deport gang members who did not immigrant legally. McCoy said Oceanside already does everything it can on that front in working with federal officers.

"We do anything we believe will assist us with illegal immigration and crime issues in the community," McCoy said.

Police officials have said Oceanside has 12 street gangs with roughly 620 documented gang members. In addition, there are about 450 associates, or people linked to the gangs, they said.

McCoy said gang violence has decreased in recent years in Oceanside, adding that the number of crimes in the city decreased 12.5 percent from 2005 to 2006.

But the fatal shooting of Oceanside police Officer Dan Bessant on Dec. 20 has raised questions about gang activity in Oceanside because authorities have said two teenagers charged with killing the officers are gang members.

Both teenagers are U.S. citizens, and not illegal immigrants, but immigration questions often surface when gang members are involved in crimes.

McCoy said the police use immigration status to arrest some gang members, but that most gang members are arrested on parole or probation violations.

"People would like to say a majority of gang members are illegal immigrants, but the truth is they are not," McCoy said. "I would say a very small percentage of gang members are illegal immigrants."

Federal enforcement

When Oceanside identifies gang members living in the United States illegally, McCoy said, they contact officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The federal department in charge of deporting illegal immigrants has an office in Oceanside and several officers assigned to the city, said Serge Duarte, the deputy special agent in charge of the San Diego area.

"Our relationship with the Oceanside Police Department is excellent," Duarte said last week. "We're always very happy to work with local law enforcement to identify problems and use whatever authority necessary to solve the problem."

The federal department deported 8,693 immigrants from the San Diego area in 2006 ---- 6,872 of them convicted criminals ---- said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman with the federal agency.

Duarte said about 20 percent to 25 percent of gang members throughout the county are illegal immigrants, and that a majority of them are illegal immigrants from Mexico.

"Everyone recognizes this is a serious issue," Duarte said. "We have always focused on criminal aliens and gang members."

Immigration officials have launched several large sweeps in North County in the last several years, including several in Oceanside.

In five sweeps since 2003, immigration officials have arrested at least 96 gang members or associates who were living illegally in Oceanside, according to a review of news stories.

Oceanside police officers have assisted in the sweeps, and former police Chief Jerome Lance spoke at a news conference in Washington, D.C., discussing a nationwide immigration sweep in 2005.

McCoy said police and immigration officials often work together to build up evidence against gang members living in the country illegally so they can conduct a sweep rather than just arresting the gang members one by one.

"Sweeps send a message not just to the gangs, but also to the neighborhood that we are taking action," said McCoy.

He said one problem local and federal officials face is gang members returning to the United States after being deported. During a sweep in summer 2005, 10 of 18 gang member arrested had previously been deported.

Adrian George Camacho, who was convicted of killing police Officer Tony Zeppetella in June 2003, was a gang member who had been deported to Mexico twice.

Duarte said re-entering the United States after being deported is a crime punishable by two to three years in prison. He said federal agencies work hard with local police departments to identify people who re-enter the country, although McCoy said it's a challenging problem.

"I'm not an expert in the area, but from my own experience, it's common that when people are deported it's only a matter of time before they are back in the United States," McCoy said.

No need for policy changes

McCoy said he didn't know what more the Oceanside department could do to work with federal officials on the issue, noting that the plan proposed by Escondido police in dealing with immigration issues isn't new for police departments.

Escondido police Chief Jim Maher has said the city is having a federal agent screen documented gang members and that more than 30 may face deportation. He said the department is developing a policy to deal with people in the country illegally who are involved in criminal activity such as drugs and gangs.

But Duarte said, "There are some misconceptions about (changes in) Escondido" because federal agents have always worked with the city. He said the way Escondido handles information within the department will probably be the biggest change with the city's new policy.

When asked about the Escondido policy, Oceanside leaders said they were pleased with how their police department has handled immigration issues and noted that it's the responsibility of the federal government to handle such issues.

"I'm confident the city has been doing everything it can all along," Councilman Rocky Chavez said. "We also need to make sure we don't divide the city."

Chavez said the city shouldn't "profile" certain races ---- questioning them just because of their ethnicity ---- since a vast majority of residents are law-abiding citizens.

Mayor Jim Wood said local and federal agents have done a good job of dealing with gang members living in the county illegally, but that federal officers need to do more to enforce immigration laws against people who aren't criminals or gang members.

Councilman Jack Feller said the city should not let illegal immigrants live in Oceanside, but it's an issue for the federal government.

"If someone is here illegally, they should be deported," Feller said. "It's illegal to be here illegally."

McCoy said the key to effectively tackling immigration and crime problems is having close personal relationships with federal officials.

"The best way to get something done is to know someone," McCoy said. "We have a lot of personal contacts (with the federal officials.)"

Duarte said he speaks with McCoy on a regular basis and has a "great formal and informal relationship" with the police department.

He said his federal agents rely on information from local police departments, and residents could also help federal officials deal with immigration problems.

"Residents need to be the eyes and ears of their community," Duarte said. "We ask the citizens of Oceanside and North County to report any criminal behavior if they see it so we can take action."

Contact staff writer David Sterrett at (760) 901-4067 or dsterrett@nctimes.com.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/01 ... _20_07.txt

Comments On This Story

Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.

Jean wrote on January 21, 2007 12:13 AM:"All illegal aliens need to be deported and permanently barred from this country. Our crime rate & disease rate would go down to 10% of what it is now. These illegal aliens cross our borders illegally because they have absolutely NO respect whatsoeve for our laws or for us and have absolutely no morals whatsoeve or these criminals would have come here legally. When these criminals cross our borders illegally, which is a CRIME, they are NOT medically inspected like immigrants are when immigrants immigrate here legally. Illegal aliens are all criminals. Illegal alien criminals are bringing diseases into this country that we eradicated 50 years ago and which are now re-appearing. These criminals are also bringing diseases here that have never been seen here before. For example, tuberculosis, leprosy, chagas disease [a horrible disease with no cure whatsoever], aids, etc. Let the deportations begin!!! English ONLY!!!"

LTSR wrote on January 21, 2007 1:16 AM:"Bravo!!!!! Let's go all out and do everything possible to rid our streets of gang activity....whether it be illegal aliens or not. Most definitely deport the illegals as we find them. From what I've read about so many of the shootings and killings around North County, it appears so many are being caused by illegal aliens. They have very little regard for human life."

Randy wrote on January 21, 2007 5:04 AM:"How many illegal immigrant gang members who are deported ultimately return? Is the percentage who return so high that deportation is symbolic?"

NorthCounty Resident wrote on January 21, 2007 8:27 AM:"Escondido and Oceanside are signed up, now it is time for San Marcos and Vista to round it out for No.County. It is a win-win for everybody and it is the right thing to do. Bye bye adios bad guys."

Another 1/2 effort?? wrote on January 21, 2007 8:32 AM:"If there is one thing gang members have its a bond, with like gamg members but even more so with family. As with anything in life, either the reward or the penility has to be enough to achieve the wanted out-come. Don't just look at gang members in this effort (?). If the gang member brings enough attention on him/herself that police have contact with other family members and learn they are in this country illegally, police should not turn a blind eye. They should be taken into custody. If they gang member doesn't want his family effected he has a choice to make. Family also has a choice..stay attached to the gang member and accept the outcome. Police, if your in a house and see narcotics or a sawed off shotgun do you turn your back, of course not. then don't turn you back on ILLEGAL immigration into our country either. It IS your job to ask that one question. "

We need to deport all illegals. The problem is that members of gangs are often anchor babies and not just the illegals. America needs to wake up and realize what is happening.

Originally Posted by Beckyal

We need to deport all illegals. The problem is that members of gangs are often anchor babies and not just the illegals. America needs to wake up and realize what is happening.

i for one do not believe anchors are citizens. it was never the intention of the founders of the 14th amendment to let 2 criminal invaders pro create a LEGAL AMERICAN citizen!!

Beckyal wrote:

We need to deport all illegals. The problem is that members of gangs are often anchor babies and not just the illegals.

If our federal government would do their job and start deporting all illegal immigrant families, many of those anchor babies would depart with the parents.

Of couse when they become of age many, but not all of them, will reenter the United States and petition the government for entry of their parents and unmarried siblings under the age of 21 (chain migration).