Free Republic

An illegal Mexican immigrant in North Carolina was charged with drunken driving at least five times before a July 16 wreck that killed a Gaston County teacher. Ramiro Gallegos' driving record is far worse than authorities realized -- five impaired driving charges in five years, including one previous head-on collision. On Friday, N.C. authorities remained unaware of two out-of-state convictions until informed by an Observer reporter. Gallegos' history reveals glaring failures in communication, record keeping and enforcement among police, courts and immigration officials. If the system had worked, Gallegos would likely have been sent back to Mexico in 2002, or...