Refugee Crime

Tex The Pontificator ^ | September 2, 2005 | Tex The Ponitificator

[Sue Bob]

The linked article concerns the reports of refugee crime in New Orleans. I had supposed that would cease when the refugees were brought out and put in proper shelters. Silly me.

My daughter and her husband live essentially across the street from the Astrodome. She says the police sirens are virtually constant. I have heard from a Dallas policeman of the strain on Dallas police resources created by the refugees sent there. He spoke of riot conditions. It is my understanding we have received several thousand refugees here in San Antonio, but they are being placed in the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum, which is a considerable distance from where I live. I do not know the police situation here.

This is a part of the story, too, and the news should get out. I can't be sure of the significance of the problem yet, but from what I hear, it is serious. My daughter has a 9 mm, and my advice to her is to keep it handy.

I have not lost my sympathy for the refugees, and I do not doubt that the trouble comes from a minority. But a minority of such big numbers can cause big problems. The last I heard, San Antonio is scheduled to get 25,000 refugees. And I am deeply concerned about my daughter.

[Sue Bob]

I saw some on this site jump all over a commentor a couple of days ago for suggesting that Texans should be concerned about the mass of refugees descending upon Texas. I'm concerned. Go ahead, jump all over me. I've donated and I'm taking refugees who work for one of my clients into my home

Meanwhile, the people who live near the Astrodome need to arm themselves.

[snarks_when_bored]

New Orleans had its share of rats, and, as always, they've deserted the sinking ship, too. Controlling them in their new locales will be an essential job.

Good luck over there...

[thepizzalady]

It is wise to be concerned. After all, how could anyone sort out the gangsters from the average citizen in such a chaotic situation. There is bound to be a mix of criminals amongst the population. After all there are more evacuees than the population of some towns and cities, and I would certainly want some form of self protection.

I do hope though, that people would call the displaced something other than refugees. The common meaning of the word would imply that those fleeing are fleeing from political upheaval to a foreign country. No American citizen who is being transported from one US city to another due to a disaster, should ever be called a refugee. Regardless of the situation.

[Sue Bob]

You are right. What about the term evacuees?

[Americanchild]

refugee: an exile who flees for safety

exile: 1. Voluntarily absent from home or country

2. Expelled from home or country by authority

3.The act of expelling a person from their native land

I don't understand why people are so resistant to the word 'refugee'. It is not demeaning in any way, and it doesn't make you any less American. It aptly describes those who have been expelled from their homes.

As for the crime rising because of the sudden influx of new people---it concerns me too. There's more than 25,000 sitting downtown and elsewhere with lots of time on their hands. If only a small percentage are criminal, that's still a serious situation.

[thepizzalady]

"...What about the term evacuees?..."

An evacuee is someone who is removed from a threatening situation which seems more appropriate to what is taking place.

[thepizzalady]

"...I don't understand why people are so resistant to the word 'refugee'. It is not demeaning in any way, and it doesn't make you any less American. It aptly describes those who have been expelled from their homes..."

I am resistant to the word "refugee" being used in this context because:

As a US Citizen, I consider the entire United States of America my native land. And those who seek refuge are not necessarily "refugees"... someone who flees to find safety from oppression or persecution from political upheaval. Usually to a foreign country. (the most common usage of the word refugee.) If a person seeks refuge (shelter)from a storm, they are not refugees.

You'll forgive me for my 10 years in a Catholic school with nuns who were sticklers on parsing words and conjugating sentences. I retain this odd habit even after 50 years.

Also I do not believe the word "refugee" is demeaning. My own grandparents fled an oppressive government to become citizens of the US.

[No Blue States]

"I saw some on this site jump all over a commentor a couple of days ago for suggesting that Texans should be concerned about the mass of refugees descending upon Texas. I'm concerned. Go ahead, jump all over me. I've donated and I'm taking refugees who work for one of my clients into my home Meanwhile, the people who live near the Astrodome need to arm themselve"

Anyone who isnt concerned is in denial. There were over 1400 registered sex offenders in NOLA.

Where the hell are they now?

They wont even pick up their own trash in the Astrodome. 2 arrested for going into the women showers at at TxAM. Women being harassed in OK at a shelter. Burglars near Ok shelter. Confirmed Rape near Astrodome? This is some of what Ive been able to read here that seemed reputable, how much is going unreported? Look, I dont care what color criminals are. I realize there are good people among them. So what.

The crime is a legitimate concern. And it shouldnt be swept under the rug. Neither should the good deeds some of them do, or success stories from the sheltered.

I want our laws enforced and the criminals sent back to LA. Welcome to any law abiding citizen from NO who wants to work for a living.

[No Blue States]

This is a from blog entry dated Sept 4th:


"Please let as many people as possible know what's going on in the Astrodome. There's a public health crisis, both medical and mental. A child was raped and women continue to be sexually assaulted.There's still inadequate law enforcement, and what law enforcement is there is focused in the wrong direction. Until the light is shone in the Astrodome the way it is being shone at George R. Brown Convention Center, no one will be embarassed enough to do better. This can't just be a local volunteer effort. This has to happen at higher levels, but individuals can bring the pressure to bear that can make things happen at higher levels. Go do good work."

The last entry shows Sept 5th improved with more LEOs.

I wonder if the security problem areas in the photos have been secured. Anyone in Houston have a report on Astrodome?
Can the child rape there be confirmed?

http://whitewashingblack.blogspot.com/

[No Blue States]

bttt

[No Blue States]

ping

[Dog Gone]

The Houston Chief of Police was on a radio talk show this morning talking about the Astrodome. He said there was one call for a sexual assault which turned to be unfounded.

There has been an arrest for fighting outside the Astrodome, and around 30 arrests for drug possession. He said that Louisiana residents only get a citation for smoking dope. Here in Texas, you get to spend the night in jail.

All in all, he said, they're getting about the same number of calls as any town of 15,000 would be getting.

[No Blue States]

Thanks Dog Gone, this must have been an unfounded rumor then.

[tmcgaugh]

My name is Tracy McGaugh, and I am the co-author of White Washing the Black Storm at http://whitewashingblack.blogspot.com. Yesterday, we went back to the areas where we took the pictures, and those areas were finally secured. It was only after posting the pictures on the Internet that the areas were secured. We had previously taken police to those areas to them where they were and explain the danger. Days passed with no response. After the pictures went up, the response was much quicker.

I can confirm one instance of sexual assault and two of attempted sexual assault, reported to me by the victims or their parents. In addition, I can confirm two instances of theft. Reports to the police have been met with, "You should probably move out of the Dome." In some of these instances, the response by police was reported to me by the victims; in other instances, I've witnessed this response by the police.

Law enforcement officials who have been asked to respond to our blog consistently say, "No one has reported anything." However, I'm perplexed as to how reports are going to be made when police keep refusing to take reports and instead just suggest that people move out of the Dome if they don't feel safe. In addition, sexual assault is an underreported crime in ordinary circumstances. I think it's perfectly understandable that it would be underreported in these circumstances, where I've witnessed any evacuee who goes to the police with raised voices be treated with hostility and told that he or she will be removed from Reliant Park (where the Astrodome sits) premanently if he or she does not calm down immediately.

We are only reporting on the blog things that we have personally observed or first-hand accounts that are reported to us. We have no interest in beginning unsubstantiated rumors or causing a panic where none exists.

[No Blue States]

Bump to the Top

[No Blue States]

"The Houston Chief of Police was on a radio talk show this morning talking about the Astrodome. He said there was one call for a sexual assault which turned to be unfounded."

Hi Dog Gone, I wanted to make sure you caught this reply above from the blog author.

My theory is much of the crime is being swept under the rug, due to the negative effect news stories of refugee crime would have on the goal of dealing with this sudden massive influx of people.

Yesterday I read accounts of other states identifying some of the sex offenders among their refugees.
My question is if Texas has done anything to this effect, and if not why.

[Dog Gone]

It's a problem. No doubt about it. A lot of these people have no identification. Someone who wants to slip below the radar can probably do it for awhile.

I assume it will be sorted out over time, but I'm sure there are sex offenders among the refugees.

[No Blue States]

Evacuee Charged With Raping Mentally Challenged Girl

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1482015/posts?page=1

fyi

[No Blue States]

"Katrinas crime concerns in North Texas"

(Dallas Sept 9th) Under the Hurricane Katrina section and Katrina Video, 3rd one down.
Dallas police cheifs speaks of efforts to battle refugee crime.

http://www.wfaa.com/

[No Blue States]

Not that Dallas was crime free before this mass migration..

May 25, 2004
Once Again, Dallas Has Highest Crime Rate in the Country

http://dallas.about.com/b/a/087980.htm