Posted on 04/09/2010 9:52:37 AM PDT by rabscuttle385
Montgomery County is opening its doors to illegal immigrants as its neighbors around the Washington region crack down on them.
While counties across the area are slamming their doors shut to illegals through federal enforcement, Montgomery County's communication with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials is limited to a weekly fax of names. And now the county is fighting an effort to crack down statewide.
The county's Department of Corrections sends the name of every inmate detained on charges of violent crime — without regard to their immigration status — to ICE weekly, according to county spokesman Patrick Lacefield.
"If the arrest is not for [violent crime], then ICE will NOT be contacted, regardless of the individual's legal status and/or gang affiliation," county policy reads.
Montgomery's policies are "downright laissez faire," said Howard County sheriff's spokesman Mark Verderaime, who added that he believes Howard is too soft on illegal immigrants as well.
The Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports low immigration, called it a "dangerous sanctuary policy."
Montgomery's neighboring counties, Frederick and Prince George's, are reining in illegal immigration through federal enforcement programs.
Frederick uses the federal 287(g) program, which gives local police the power to identify, investigate and detain illegal immigrants.
Frederick Sheriff Charles Jenkins said the 18 correctional officers and 10 law enforcement officers trained under 287(g) have identified more than 600 illegal immigrants since implementing the program two years ago.
He has pointed to Montgomery's lack of enforcement as a reason for Frederick's problems with illegals. "People that commit crimes don't recognize jurisdictional boundaries," he said.
Maryland Del. Patrick L. McDonough is sponsoring a bill in the General Assembly that would implement 287(g) statewide in Maryland, which is being fought by Montgomery's state lawmakers.
"I think it may lead to racial profiling," said Montgomery County Del. Susan C. Lee, D-Bethesda.
She added she was worried about creating a state of fear so illegals wouldn't report crimes. "Illegal immigrants aren't just criminals, they can also be victims."
McDonough said Montgomery's policies have made the county a safe haven for gangs, making it more difficult in his district, Baltimore County, to fight gang violence.
"The gateway into this state creating problems with illegals is Montgomery," said McDonough, a Republican. "[Montgomery's] open-door policy has caused a lot of violence in the state."
He also is concerned that an influx of illegals will flow across the Potomac River once Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell expands the 287(g) program throughout his state.
Illegals "are going to leave the ship and come over here," McDonough said.
Corey Stewart, chairman of Prince William County's Board of Supervisors, said his county has dumped a number of illegals into Montgomery since implementing 287(g) in 2007.
"Clearly what happened in Prince William County is that a lot of the illegal immigrants are leaving and going to Montgomery," he said, citing the increase in Montgomery's gang-related crimes over the past several years. Meanwhile, Prince William's crime rate has dropped 38 percent.
Illegals in the Freak State ping!
And Montgomery is on the verge of losing its triple A rating on its bonds. Illegals are costing the county a fortune. I think it is great. The liberals will now get mugged.
“ICE will NOT be contacted, regardless of the individual’s legal status and/or gang affiliation,” county policy reads.”
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Gee, what could possibly go wrong?
“”If the arrest is not for [violent crime], then ICE will NOT be contacted, regardless of the individual’s legal status and/or gang affiliation,” county policy reads. “
I hope every illegal alien on the east coast shows up for these fools to take care of. They sure don’t mind bragging about breaking US immigration law, do they?
I f I was a resident, I would get the heck out of Montgomery County MD real quick....anyone pandering to Illegal Aliens just asks for trouble...crime, higher taxes, poor performing schools....
“But it takes effort!” The police chief replied indignantly to the question of whether the police should actually enfoce the law.
[/semi-sarc][/cynic]
Let’s just sit back and whatch Montgomery County go down the tubes. Of course, when non-violent crime escalates to violent crime and property taxes go through the roof to pay for illegals’ freebies then the rest of us will have to pull them out of the muck. But until then, it’s popcorn time!
My mother lives there. My mother and many of her neighbors are not happy about it. But, the rich love them, cheap labor and they are opened for abuse.
I’m glad I left in ‘92, it was a great place to grow up in the early 70’s though.
Maryland Activity
In Maryland, MS-13 is present throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, but is especially active in the Langley Park and Takoma Park areas. MS-13 is present to a lesser degree in Howard County where MS-13 appears to be involved in auto theft. Individual gang members and gang graffiti are being identified by law enforcement throughout the state including Baltimore City and Baltimore, Carroll County, Frederick, Harford, and Washington counties. MS-13 is known to visit or hold meetings in Charles, Calvert, St. Mary’s, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.
In Prince George’s County, MS-13 activity has been a major problem in the area of Langley Park and nearby communities. MS-13 has been involved in numerous assaults, murders, rapes, as well as extortion, prostitutions rings and thefts from autos. Montgomery County gang investigators report MS-13 activity in Silver Spring, Wheaton, Rockville, and Gaithersburg. MS-13 gang members are associated with numerous assaults, several rapes and homicides.
Aspen Hill seems to be the epicenter of illegal habitation in Montgomery County. Every day on my drive home from work, I pass by probably 100 signs in the median strip of Georgia Avenue in Aspen Hill advertising the Census. About the only good thing about it is that the signs are in English.
35 years ago, most of my relatives lived in Silver Spring, Rockville and Chevy Chase. That was in the late 60’s to mid 70’s. I would hate to see it now.
She added she was worried about creating a state of fear so illegals wouldn’t report crimes. “Illegal immigrants aren’t just criminals, they can also be victims.”
If they weren’t here, they wouldn’t be either one.
Apparently propert values are of no concern to the caring souls who live there.
Add one more place to the list of area’s NOT to move to or do business with.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Model 1911A1 and Mossberg 500 Tactical Persuader, no home should be without these especially if you live in Montgomery County, Maryland
And if you think this statewide 287(g) program has a hope in hell, remember that both houses of the legisl00ture are set up proportionally, thanks to the one-man-one-vote diktat from the Supreme Court. This makes heavily populated Montgomery County a heavy hitter in both houses. If Maryland’s Senate, on the other hand, represented counties equally, for example, you could see it at least get through that house
Ping!
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