Posted on 04/24/2008 3:20:13 PM PDT by mdittmar
What happens in Lexington doesn't stay in Lexington, at least not anymore. More and more illegal immigrants who get arrested here are being detained by federal immigration officials and then being deported because of two new policies. In the past a person like Julio Morales Chacon, a convicted criminal and illegal immigrant, could have served his time in the Fayette County jail, then he could have been released back on the streets. But on April 14th Chacon was turned over to I.C.E. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Marcello Sabino Borges, an illegal immigrant who served his time for DUI and resisting arrest, could have walked out of the detention center a free man on march 31st. But he's not free today. Instead he was picked up the same day by I.C.E. agents who took him into federal custody.
So, what's changed in Fayette County? Two policies. One at the jail and one in the Commonwealth Attorney's Office. Commonwealth Attorney Ray Larson says, "I want people to suffer the consequences of their acts." Because of that he is now tracking illegal immigrants who are accused of felony crimes. Larson says these are serious crimes, "Were talking about rape, intimidating a witness, were talking about complicity to murder, drug trafficking." The other change can be found at the jail. Today every person arrested and brought through the doors of the facility is now asked if they were born in the united states. Because of that question., introduced as part of Mayor Jim Newberry's immigration policy, 807 names have been sent to immigration officials since February 1st - an average of more than 10 names per day. When federal agents get the names they decide if they want to put a federal detainer on the person. Larson is glad to see it happening. He says, "I don't want them released back on the streets. I want them released out of the country - when they've finished serving their time for the crime they've committed while they're here."
The new policies certainly have their supporters, like Doug Roy from the group KFIRE -.Kentuckians for Immigration Reform and Enforcement. He says, "We are 100 percent behind him and what he is doing." But the policies also have their opponents, like attorney and Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee rights member Cory Hash. She calls the jail's policy "discriminatory." And she adds, "Right off the bat were getting rid of that innocent until proven guilty. If you're foreign born and we think you committed a crime we are throwing you to the wolves."
Hash also worries that it could lead to other problems for some illegal immigrants. She says "The immigrant and refugee community has a hard time distinguishing between police and the jail and this may prevent them from reporting or make them afraid to go forward to police."
That may be true, but what Fayette County is doing is part of a nationwide trend. During fiscal 2007 some 240,000 illegal immigrants were deported nationwide by I.C.E. That's 53,000 more people than the 187,000 deported in 2006.
Larson's message is simple to illegal immigrants, "don't commit a crime in Fayette County."
A Rasmussen survey, conducted back in November, asked potential voters in Kentucky a couple of questions about illegal immigrants and deportation. 81% opposed making driver's licenses available to illegal immigrants. 67% said if a person, stopped by police, turns out to be illegal they should be deported. 88% believe it is important for the government to improve its enforcement of the borders and reduce illegal immigration.
Also Fayette County is part of the Chicago region of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Last year the region deported nearly 9,000 illegal immigrants and brought charges against 13,729 criminal aliens serving time. While all 13,729 were determined to be deportable, many are still here because they must serve their sentences first.
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS IN OUR AREA: After an ICE detainer or holder is put on an inmate, ICE agents pick that person up and transport them to the Grayson County jail. They are held there until they are transferred to Wisconsin or Illinois to go before an immigration judge. At that point a decision is made to actually deport.
I grew up in Lexington and went to UK with Jim Newberry. He was president of the College Democrats and I was president of the College Republicans. He is a good guy and I am glad to see him doing this. Lexington has seen a pretty sizable influx of illegals in the last several years.
Illegal aliens never call the cops for anything except for when their own children are kidnapped and sometimes not even then.
this is the standard line I hear quoted nearly verbatim from our local sanctuary city chiefs of police here in the Twin Cities.
I’ve yet to hear of any serious crime being solved thanks to illegals and their wonderful relations with the PD.
what a bunch of BS.
Ping!
Air drop them over Iran and give them a gun just as they jump....good luck.
I like the way you think...!
This just shifts the problem to another area when he crosses back. Hard labor on the border would discourage the repeat offenders.
Here are the Senators who voted against the Cornyn amendment , which would have established a permanent bar for gang members, terrorists, and other criminals looking to snag a shamnesty visa. Republicans underlined:
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