Thread: Update on Hispanic Accused of Rape in North Carolina

So you off to Atlanta now or waiting for somebody to finally screw up and unintentionally release this info?

I vote for the later. You've already spent too much time on this project. I'm sure we all have our personal opinions anyway.

I think Bootsie is on a quest on this one. I get like that where you just have to have an answer.

More power to her. Go, Bootsie!

I just don't think ICE is going to release this information to ME. I started thinking about that after the reporter suggested that and I thought, there must be something wrong in this picture. SHouldn't the POLICE be trying to determine that?? Wouldn't THEY be the ones who have access to any forms of ID the man had so that ICE could cross-reference it?? I just think I would be wasting my time calling ICE. I have no idea what to tell them or ask them. I'm getting ready to email that reporter and tell him that I think that's the job of the police to deal with ICE. What would I say,---"Hello, ICE. THis is Bootsie. I want you to tell me if Gilberto Hernandez is in our country legally? ICE would say, "WHO in the world are you talking about?"

Hmmm. I suspect if the police have called ICE, then the guy is not a Citizen, and not a legal immigrant papers, but one of those "undocumented" rats and the police are awaiting verification that the guy is here illegally before they accuse him. There is also the issue of the rest of the family which raises additional possibilities of illegalites including aiding and abetting, he's a grown man living with his parents. If they had not afforded illegal shelter, he wouldn't be here.

Throw the book at the all!

Try calling ICE and just them you were directed by the police and local newspaper concerning the immigration status of Mr. Hernandez. If they say they don't know anything about it, then report him as a suspected illegal alien whose immigration status thus far can not be verified by police or other investigators.

Okay--I've just called ICE in Atlanta FOUR TIMES and tried every extension on their menu and did not get ONE PERSON. THEY ARE ALL OUT TO LUNCH, I reckon. Now, that is a DISGRACE. I couldn't speak to ONE person.

My little reporter emailed me back that he had a call in to ICE to try to get the information and he is waiting for them to call back. I will copy and paste his email. This one, Patrick, seems much more willing to help me.

I also called the Winston-Salem Police Department and asked for the detective who is investigating. Got his voice mail and left a message. I did tell him what I wanted to know.

Will get back to you.

Message from Reporter:

The police may be doing that. However, the Winston-Salem Police Department is the most tight-lipped police department I know, so they're not going to tell the public that. What we had in the newspaper is what the police released.

We'll try to get more, but sometimes we're simply at the mercy of the police. ICE, however, will hopefully respond to my request.

Patrick

2nd Message from Patrick, the reporter:

Margaret,

I don't know the answer to that. I have asked the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for an answer, and we are waiting for their response.

The telephone number for that agency's Atlanta office is 404-331-0253. The Web site is www.ice.gov.

-Patrick Wilson
Winston-Salem Journal

This is a response from the reporter I contacted at the Greensboro News and Record. I will have to say the reporters that I've contacted have been VERY responsive.


Winston-Salem police do not have that information. They confirmed he was born in Mexico, and he appears to have lived in the United States for several years now. I would direct further questions to Winston-Salem officers.



Eric J.S. Townsend

Staff Writer

News & Record

200 E. Market St.

Greensboro, NC 27401

(336) 373-7008

,---"Hello, ICE. THis is Bootsie. I want you to tell me if Gilberto Hernandez is in our country legally? ICE would say, "WHO in the world are you talking about?"

Bootsie, I've got to tell you I've chuckled about this all afternoon. I can understand why nobody in Atlanta will answer your call; they probably all have caller id & realize what they'd be in for!

Seriously, I do admire your determination.