Government pay immigrant's relatives $2.15 million [relatives of an illegal immigrant]

Star-Telegram ^ | Wed, Jan. 28, 2004 | Associated Press

[yonif]

SAN ANTONIO - The federal government will pay $2.15 million to the relatives of an undocumented immigrant, settling a lawsuit alleging the immigrant was paralyzed in a struggle with immigration officers.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery approved the deal for the five children and ex-wife of Serafin Olvera Carrera at a hearing in San Antonio on Tuesday.

Olvera, who died at a Houston hospital in February 2002, was paralyzed March 25, 2001, during a raid at a Bryan home involving agents with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, now U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In June 2003, a federal jury in Houston convicted officers Richard Henry Gonzales, Carlos Reyna and Louis Rey Gomez, all of San Antonio, of acting with deliberate indifference for failing to give Olvera timely medical care.

Gonzales also was convicted of using excessive force when he doused Olvera with pepper spray.

All three, scheduled for sentencing Thursday in Houston, plan to appeal.

Trial records show Olvera, who was combative with officers, was paralyzed when he was wrestled to the ground by Gonzales and a supervisor. The supervisor was not prosecuted.

The records also show that Gonzales called an administrator in San Antonio more than a dozen times to ask what to do with Olvera, and that the administrator would not return the call. Olvera finally was treated seven hours later.

[moehoward]

Tort reform should start right there.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

They think we're suckers, and we are for putting up with it.

We are suckers, and our President is announcing it.

[johnb838]

We need camps. Camps like they have in Phoenix. When these bastards are apprehended, take a mug shot, fingerprints, DNA samples, and assign a number (names are useless, they change them like their clothing). First offense, deportation. Second offense, it's Concentration Camp time. Feed them gruel. Make them work. I can't take much more of this AAaaaazereerrrrrrggghhhhhhh()#$(*&w*(!!!

[johnb838]

Somebody called it Population Balancing earlier, the biggest social engineering experiment in history.

[11B3]

I think I have the solution to the entire immigration mess: Russia. Russia's population will decline by 900,000 THIS YEAR. They WANT IMMIGRANTS!!! Well, we've got 'em! They've got oil, we've got immigrants. Now all we have to do is figure out the transportation and pricing.

[dougherty]

This makes my blood boil. But you know what really gets me? This illegal will probably get this 2M without having to pay any of his hospital bill. I would be absolutely amazed if a cent of that money goes toward that bill. Deport them all now! I don't care about the hand-wringing crybabies, I'm sick of living in a flood of illegals.

[dougherty]

They have detention camps in Australia and France. Once an illegal is caught he/she should be held in a detention center until they are deported. Usually they let them go until a hearing but they just disappear. It's time to get tough with these people, being nice is NOT working. It's just getting worse by the day.

[Xenalyte]

I'd hope the size of the settlement was tempered by the idea he should still be deported and the cost of treatment and other after care is cheaper in Mexico.

Shouldn't cost too much, considering he's no longer with us.

"Olvera, who died at a Houston hospital in February 2002, was paralyzed March 25, 2001, during a raid at a Bryan home . . . ."

[Xenalyte]

Dude, read the article! :) The perp is dead.

[spacewarp]

Firstly, this article displays such a flagrant disregard for America that I almost hit abuse to report the abuse of America.

Second. I want to know, what the process would be to file a motion to only allow the 2+ million to be paid for by taxes collected by illegal immigrants?

Third. What can be done to ensure these people are put back over the line and told that if they come back, they lose the money?

[humboldtconservative]

After care?? He is dead. This is just another example of ridiculous jury awards. The man and his family were here illegally. Had they not broken the law in the first place, this would have never happened.

And, am I supposed to believe that this guy was going to make $2.1 million during his lifetime?? Preposterous.

[Dr Warmoose]

And, am I supposed to believe that this guy was going to make $2.1 million during his lifetime?? Preposterous.

Hey there is a lot of money in doing "jobs that Americans won't do".

[janetgreen]

I'll join you....

AAaaaazereerrrrrrggghhhhhhh()#$(*&w*(!!!

[lainde]

bttt

[johnb838]

Maybe I'LL emigrate back home to Russia or Poland or Hungary somewhere my relatives couldn't go back to. I've been considering retiring there.

[Kay Soze]

Take the 2.5 million from the GOP congress and not me and my family

Its the GOP encouraging this border running.