Crackdown leads to more deportations

The Washington Post ^ | Sep. 28, 2006 | PETER WHORISKEY

[Dubya]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Police here operated for years under what amounts to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward illegal immigrants.

As elsewhere in the United States, law enforcement officers did not check the immigration status of people they came into contact with, and in the vast majority of cases, a run-in with the law carried little threat of deportation.

But that accommodation for the burgeoning illegal population ended abruptly in April, when the Mecklenburg County sheriff's office began to enforce immigration law, placing more than 100 people a month into deportation proceedings. Some of them had been charged with violent crimes, others with traffic infractions.

[Dubya]

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph says there should be little sympathy for illegal immigrants caught by his program because they have already broken the law once by being here illegally, and then been arrested on suspicion of another crime.

[gubamyster]

ping

[CrawDaddyCA]

Kudos to Sheriff Pendergraph.

[FreePaul]

Good for the Sheriff. I'll withhold my congratulations to the feds until the deportations exceed the number of illegals streaming across the border.

[siznartuf]

"Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph says there should be little sympathy for illegal immigrants caught by his program because they have already broken the law once by being here illegally, and then been arrested on suspicion of another crime."

Well said and well done!

[DustyMoment]

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph says there should be little sympathy for illegal immigrants caught by his program because they have already broken the law once by being here illegally, and then been arrested on suspicion of another crime.

Actually, being here illegally is only the tip of the iceberg. Most are using forged/fraudulent documentation that allows them to work and obtain housing. Some have obtained driver licenses and voted using their forged documentation.

Don't cry for any of these people. They knew what they were doing when they snuck across our border.

[skeeter]

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Jim Pendergraph says there should be little sympathy for illegal immigrants caught by his program because they have already broken the law once by being here illegally, and then been arrested on suspicion of another crime.

Somehow I don't think any of that matters to the racial grievance industry, who don't really care what the effects their pet causes have on the rest of America, as long as their constituency continues to grow.

[SmoothTalker]

Glad to see him doing something about it. With the federal goverment failing so miserably on this issue local goverments have to step up to the plate. I'm glad his is.

[edzuk]

Looks like the good sheriff had a long talk with Sheriff Opiah from Phoenix---- the desert has enough room for thousands of tents.

[Paperdoll]

>Kudos to Sheriff Pendergraph.<

Yes, it is about time. The Sheriff saw his rightful duty and he is doing it! Nearly every violent crime reported lately seems to have been committed by an (illegal?) Latino. Deport every law infringer deep into their own country, pronto!

[itsahoot]

placing more than 100 people a month into deportation proceedings.

I bet not one of these is in custody, atch and release is alive and well, even if deported, they will just come back accross the border at their leisure.

[donna]

Check out this terrific TV campaign ad for Sen. Jon Kyl, R-AZ entitled "Sheriffs":

http://www.jonkyl.com/resource/videos.aspx

[G-Man 1]

In Dade County Fl. your in another south s--t whole country. Even the high school kids have an accent.

[TheLion]

It's a start!

[stephenjohnbanker]

Bush and the Senate are rabidly pro illegal immigration, and have taken many steps to insure it continuing. Catch & Release is alive and well here.

[csmusaret]

They are all in custody. The Sheriff finds they are illegal while they are in his jail for committing other crimes.