Posted on 08/11/2005 1:37:43 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
Staff Writer
To help fix an immigration system she believes is broken, U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick plans to introduce the "The Scott Gardner Act" when Congress returns in September.
Gardner was the Mount Holly man killed last month in Brunswick County when his car was hit by a truck driven by an illegal Mexican immigrant. Ramiro Gallegos has been charged with drunken driving and murder.
It was Gallegos' fifth impaired driving charge in five years. He was eligible for deportation each time he was arrested. Though he was entered in computers as an illegal alien in 2000, immigration officials say they received no requests for information about him from local law enforcement.
Many police departments only question immigration status if suspects are involved in felonies. Because drunken driving is a misdemeanor, it's a lower priority for immigration officers.
Myrick, a Charlotte Republican, said last week, "There has got to be a better reporting system." She said Gardner's death was "a call to action."
Aide Hal Weatherman said Wednesday the proposed measure is designed to ensure better coordination between law enforcement agencies in determining immigration status. He said more details -- and other recommendations -- would be released at a news conference Myrick plans Monday in Gastonia.
Myrick also plans to hold a "town meeting" on immigration issues Tuesday at 7 p.m. at her Gastonia office in the old Commercial Building on Main Street.
A Gardner family spokesman declined to comment Wednesday.
=========================================
It was Gallegos' fifth impaired driving charge in five years.He was eligible for deportation each time he was arrested.
The feds go as far as to instruct locals not to even bother with apprehending illegal aliens (of whom there are tens of millions throughout the country).
For example, Fish and Game now in many states just 'catch and release' illegal aliens caught poaching due to having been informed by ICE that if these perpetrators are brought to them, they will simply release them.
It's the same story throughout the country from fish poaching to drunk driving to mortgage fraud . . the illegal alien is walking away scott free while American citizens in the victim category continues to skyrocket and the American legal system being made the butt of jokes around the world.
The Federal Government refuses to deport illegal aliens due to lack of funding, deportation facilities, vehicles, deportation officers and most importantly - the intentional agenda to remove the United States border with Mexico.
READ: The American People are being fed a wholesale lie about the degree of the illegal alien crisis and are expected to swallow it lock, stock, and barrel. Don't believe it?
=============================================
Though he was entered in computers as an illegal alien in 2000, immigration officials say they received no requests for information about him from local law enforcement.Many police departments only question immigration status if suspects are involved in felonies. Because drunken driving is a misdemeanor, it's a lower priority for immigration officers.
If this means that the federal government is serious about immigration control, then I've got a sweet real estate deal for you in Nueovo Laredo . .
=========================================
NOTE: North Carolina is typical to the nation in the ratio of deportation officers to illegal aliens.
Though North Carolina has an estimated 300,000 illegal immigrants, the state has one federal deportation officer who's among fewer than 10 people in the state who work for Detention and Removal Operations, a unit of ICE.
Ping
WTF? Now illegals have some type of qualification standard to reach before they become eligible for deportation?
Tara Servatius of Creative Loafing in Charlotte rips in to Myrick for her handling of this situation.
http://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050810/CHANEWS07/508100402/-1/CHANEWS
Key paragraph
CLEAR lets its Congressional supporters look like they're getting tough on immigration while shifting the blame elsewhere. The bill mandates that local law enforcement arrest illegal immigrants they encounter and house them in local prisons until they're processed for deportation. There are less than 400 beds in this state now for that purpose and the bill only offers to build a maximum of 500 more per state - if they are ever funded. Given that there are four to eight million people who qualify to be "targeted," this is an unfunded mandate of staggering proportions that threatens to shift the responsibility for immigration enforcement onto the backs of local authorities.
The American taxpayer plays the rube, the sucker, nodding placidly.
ping
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
I still say the governor should declare all illegal aliens as outlaws. Then we can take care of the problem.
Frankly, I'd like to round up those past legislators who "invited" the illegals here, first.
Tara makes some good points in that article. Might be a bit harsh on Myrick, but she brings up a lot of the problems with the illegal immigration issue.
As long as the POTUS wants the illegals here, there won't be much done about this.
am writing this as an observer and participant in a Town Hall Meeting Tuesday August 16, 2005 which Representative Sue Myrick held in Gastonia for the Gardner Family. This meeting was held to introduce the "Gardner Act", which attempts to take a strong stance against illegal immigrants that commit crimes. However, it does not address the issue of illegal aliens unlawfully entering the country.
I entered the hall around 6:30 p.m. and sat near the back of the room with my camcorder in hand and watched as the room and the balcony above quickly filled up. Men in suits were standing against the wall behind me looking very serious. As the meeting progressed, I learned that these were elected officials from various parts of the local and state government.
The introductions began at 7 p.m. and finally Charles Gardner, Scott Gardner's uncle came forward and said an eloquent prayer and then provided us with an update on Tina Gardner who is still in a coma. She is expected to be transferred from Wilmington to a Raleigh hospital August 17, 2005.
Brunswick County District Attorney Rex Gore spoke about the case and all of the problems with it, for example, the previous four DWI charges on Ramiro Gallegos were never followed up on nor were arrest warrants issued because the drivers license that illegal alien Gallegos presented to the police was issued by the State of Michigan. According to Gore, the state doesn't have the resources to track down DWI's from other states.
Gore went on to say that he is currently dealing with three DWI cases including the Gardner Case, involving illegal immigrants and that they were all hit and run offenses. He stated that 15% of all DWI's in North Carolina were committed by illegal immigrants.
Another problem that Gore pointed out is that there is only "one Hispanic speaking officer in the North Carolina Highway Patrol." He continued by saying that there are no Spanish speaking officers in his county as well.
Above the gasps of the crowd, Gore revealed that because of this lack of Hispanic speaking officers, the only way to get a murder confession from Ramiro Gallegos, was through another inmate in the jail that interpreted for the investigators. Unfortunately, the confession was no good because the inmate did not inform Gallegos of his Miranda Rights. They still got the confession because of a phone call that Gallegos made to his sister from the jail, which is recorded.
Gore spoke about the Real ID Act and how it will be a useful tool in stopping illegal immigration and that the public needs to put pressure on the North Carolina Senate to push it through as soon as possible. But he didn't explain how an identification card would stop someone from driving illegally. He did reveal that Gallegos used stolen plates, drove an unregistered vehicle and used a fake insurance card.
Sue Myrick came to the podium and spoke boldly about how the "Gardner Act" would help end the tragedies that the Scott Gardner Family has suffered. Myrick received a round of applause when she said "No more endless appeals. You're drunk. You're driving. You're illegal. You're deported. Period." Myrick went on to explain that the "Gardner Act" would:
Require state and local law enforcement agencies to enter immigration status and deportation orders into FBI's National Crime Information Center's database.
Require state and local officers to check immigration status regularly.
Automatically deport any illegal immigrant convicted of DWI.
Raise the civil fine on employers from $250 to $10,000 for every illegal immigrant they employ, and give the law enforcement agency a cut of the fine. With at least 300,000 illegal immigrants in this state that would amount to 1.2 billion if just half of them are employed and reported to the authorities.
Myrick continued by stating that "More immigration laws are expected to be taken care of in the house this September. There hasn't been any immigration reform since 1996."
The last legislation passed by congress in 1996 is known as the "Illegal Immigration and Immigrant Responsibility Act" or (IRAIRA). One provision of this act required INS to set up a database within two years to track those on visas entering the United States but never got off the ground due to lack of support. Section 133 of this same law gives authority to local and state police to detect and detain foreigners who are dangerous or in the country illegally. For unknown reasons, this law is not being utilized by most police departments.
The question and answer session began quietly and many residents expressed their views about enforcement and the lack thereof. One man said that he worked with immigration enforcement but was fired when he tried to pursue legal action against one illegal immigrant who had struck his vehicle while intoxicated. He went on to say he was still unemployed.
Another man asked Myrick if she could speak to President Bush because she should have some pull with him since she supported his CAFTA agreement. He was quickly brushed off.
Many citizens exclaimed that they didn't want the illegals in the country and that they didn't want to pay for them as well. One woman asked who was paying for Ramiro Gallegos being in jailed and District Attorney Gore responded with "You Are" She then asked who paid for his medical treatments and she got the same response of "You Are" Finally she asked "Who is paying for the Gardner Family Expenses?" The room was quiet for several seconds and Gore responded with "I think their insurance is taking care of it."
Near the end of the Q&A I finally got my chance to speak.
My first question was "what is the point of this legislation if it is not going to be enforced like so much legislation before it?"
Myrick responded with "this legislation will be enforced."
I then stated "we need the military on the border to stop the invasion because it does no good to keep deporting the same person over and over again." She responded with "we passed legislation to do that three months ago."
I finally asked her "how is all of this immigration legislation going to be helpful when we have agreements like NAFTA, CAFTA and the FTAA that opens our borders and forces us to accept the ruling of tribunals such as the one that says under NAFTA we have to allow all Mexican Truck Drivers access to US Highways." Half of the crowed erupted into a cheer. She paused then she stopped the conversation and said this meeting is not about trade, it is about immigration. Her aide standing behind me wanted me to fill out a card so Ms. Myrick could address my concerns, so I gave them my information. Her aide spoke to me for some time telling me that Ms. Myrick is only one person in which I responded "Her one vote made a big difference." She assured me that Myrick would call me, but I highly doubt it.
A couple of young ladies in the row ahead of me raised their hands when Myrick said they need 600 border agents right now, but they haven't been able to fill the positions.
Rep. John Rhodes from Charlotte was complaining that Speaker Jim Black and another rep were running the show in Raleigh and that is why NC can't get anything done. He gave out their phone number so folks could call and complain. That phone number is 919-733-4111.
I left feeling a little disappointed that I didn't say more because I want something done to save our nation. While Sue Myrick does seem to be taking a strong stance on illegal immigration, making more legislation that opposes illegal immigration while passing legislation that encourages it makes no sense to me. Seems like one cancels out the other. I am still waiting for my phone call. I am still waiting for legislation already on the books to be enforced.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.