Ask and deport, family urges

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 9, 2008 | Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton

[Delacon]

Their son's alleged killer, in the U.S. illegally, had been let out of jail onto streets.

 

The attack on the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Order 40 -- which limits when officers can ask about the citizenship status of suspects -- has come largely but not exclusively from anti-illegal-immigration forces.

But now the order has a new and potentially potent foe: the family of Jamiel Shaw Jr., the Los Angeles High football star who was killed last month. Police have charged a gang member who was in the country illegally with Shaw's slaying.

Jamiel Shaw Sr. and his wife, Anita, a U.S. Army sergeant who has been serving in Iraq, appeared before the City Council on Tuesday arguing for changes to the 30-year-old Los Angeles Police Department policy as it pertains to gang members suspected of being illegal immigrants.

Shaw Sr. proposed that LAPD policy be changed so officers would routinely check the immigration status of known gang members who are crime suspects -- which he said would make it easier to immediately deport them.

"If you're a gang member who is suspected of committing a crime, why can't they check a database at the police station to see if you're here illegally? Why can't they check a database at the jail?" Shaw asked.

Shaw's son was killed March 2 while walking home -- allegedly by Pedro Espinoza, who had been released from County Jail just hours earlier. Police say Shaw was picked at random -- perhaps as part of a gang loyalty test.

Shaw, who spoke with tears running down his face, said repeatedly that he did not want to target Latinos.

[E. Cartman]

But now the order has a new and potentially potent foe: the family of Jamiel Shaw Jr., the Los Angeles High football star who was killed last month. Police have charged a gang member who was in the country illegally with Shaw's slaying.

Shaw's death at the hands of someone in this country illegaly and the deaths of other Americans killed by illegals are of minimal consequence compared to all the benefits that removal of our borders will provide The "New World Order".{/sarcasm}

[HighlyOpinionated]

I know this is really terrible to say or to post, but I truly wish that one of the family members of a member of Congress would die at the hands of an illegal alien just to make the issue personal with them. They are so far removed from reality, sitting in their cushy offices, with their cushy salaries and retirement and medical coverage. It’s terrible to say/post, but it seems that the ONLY way for the issue to become important is for some important person’s family member be killed “for no reason” because an illegal is in this country instead of where he belongs. (generalized pronoun)

Well, I’ve said it.

[ought-six]

FTA: “Shaw, with tears streaming down his face, said he did not want to target latinos.”

Yeah, well latinos want to target him.

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[AuntB]

This is from an Email I received about the court proceedings yesterday.

Subject: Jamiel Shaw Report - Pedro Espinosa Arraignment

A group of Americans attended the arraignment of Pedro Espinosa today, to support Jamiel’s law and the Shaw family’s pursuit of justice.

The response from passersby was overwhelmingly positive, from people of all races, but most especially from African Americans. Many stopped to talk, and ask what they can do, and how they can get involved. A young Hispanic man with numerous tattoos came by and said “you are right, we gotta do something about this immigration.”

An police officer told us, we were “100% right we need to get rid of Special Order 40.” He also remarked we were in “the belly of the beast.” Several African Americans told us “you have a lot of courage to be there with those signs.” Much appreciation and gratitude was expressed a lot of thumbs up, smiles and waves.”

The Shaw Family arrived surrounded by many wearing T Shirts with Jamiel’s likeness. We expressed our support to their spokesperson who thanked us for coming. There were a about 40 Jamiel supporters there. There were also there women to support Espinosa, two young, one a little older. One of the younger ones waved and blew kisses at Espinosa, and glared at MM Ray.

There were many members of the media there. The AP reporter sat away from the other media, with the Espinosa Family supporters and spoke to them in Spanish. We did not see him speak to any Shaw supporters. We told him that his previous story referred to “Jamiel’s Law” as Anti Immigration, when it is Anti Illegal Immigration. He showed us his notes that his headline did say “anti Illegal Immigration” but stated individual papers may change the headlines and he advised us to contact the local papers.

The court processes was very busy. Many people on bail came into be arraigned. Three people who were arraigned who were in custody. Two were in blue jumpsuits and Espinosa was in orange. We could not get a good look at him. He has a public defender. There is a rumor that the El Salvadoran Consulate has been approached to pay for an attorney, but the public defender states he is still on the case and another report says they are not even sure what country he is from.

The judge denied a media request for cameras in the courtroom, stating there is ongoing investigation with regard to witness confirmation of Espinosa. He approved the DA’s request to photograph Espinosa’s tattoos.

As the family left, people called out “God Bless You, People are Praying for you.”

****NEXT COURT DATE, MAY 15, 2008***********

What can you do?

http://web.mac.com/waltermoore/WalterMooreForMayor/JL_Contact_CC.html