rssIllegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in Massachusetts
Friday, September 10, 2010 at 10:55 am
- 31 Comments
Massachusetts state representatives are vowing to push for tough immigration laws after an illegal immigrant suspected of killing two people was discovered to be in deportation proceedings. Fernando Guerrero-Lara, an immigrant from the the Dominican Republic, was awaiting a March 2011 preliminary removal hearing in U.S. Immigration Court in Texas, when he and a second man allegedly killed two people.
State politicians argue they need to do something to keep illegal immigrants out of the state, the Boston Herald reported today:
“What was he doing walking the streets?” an indignant state Rep. Brad Hill (R-Ipswich) demanded to know of Fernando Guerrero-Lara, 27. “If the federal government isn’t going to do their job, then I guess we’ll have to start doing it ourselves, state by state.” [...]
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has refused to say why Guerrero-Lara, a Dominican immigrant, was not in custody pending his preliminary March 7, 2011, deportation hearing.
State Rep. Jeffrey Perry (R-Sandwich), who is running for retiring U.S. Rep. William Delahunt’s seat, pushed this year to pass more stringent hurdles blocking illegal aliens from receiving state services. “This is a prime example of the impact illegal immigration has on our country,” Perry said. “It’s absolutely a matter of public safety.”
Massachusetts politicians acknowledged states have few options in restricting immigration, but argued they could block state services to illegal immigrants to drive some out. A federal appeals court overturned a Hazleton, Pa., immigration law yesterday penalizing landlords and employers who worked with illegal immigrants, claiming the it preempted federal immigration law.
But local and state officials continue to argue for anti-immigration laws, often spurred on by stories of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law was pushed after the murder of rancher Robert Krentz, who authorities said was murdered by a smuggler. (Authorities now suspect Krentz was killed by someone in the U.S., not Mexico.) The August death of a nun who was hit by an illegal immigrant drunk driver prompted changes to the way Virginia gives out driver’s licenses. In the Colorado gubernatorial race, Tom Tancredo, a vocal supporter anti-immigration laws who is running as an independent, has used stories of illegal immigrant-caused deaths to argue for more police checks on immigration status.
It’s understandable politicians feel the need to respond to problems of crime — particularly given the argument that the criminals shouldn’t be in the country in the first place. But the federal government’s focus has been different: Unable to deport all of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials argue they are prioritizing dangerous illegal immigrants. “There are three priorities,” ICE chief John Morton told ProPublica in a Q&A released today. “The first priority is criminal offenders.”
Perception of illegal immigrant violence often shapes policy more than the reality, Judith Gans, who immigration at the University of Arizona, told the New York Times in June:
“If an illegal immigrant commits a crime, this confirms our view that illegal immigrants are criminals,” Ms. Gans said. “If an illegal immigrant doesn’t commit a crime, either they just didn’t get caught or it’s a fluke of the situation.”
Ms. Gans noted that sponsors of Arizona’s controversial immigration enforcement law have made careers of promising to rid the state of illegal immigrants through tough legislation.
“Their repeated characterization of illegal immigrants as criminals — easy to do since they broke immigration laws — makes it easy for people to ignore statistics,” she said.
Follow Elise Foley on Twitter31 Comments
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 11:19 am
[...] full post on The Washington Independent advertising Share and [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 11:19 am
[...] View full post on The Washington Independent [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 1:18 pm
[...] stopped for another offense if there was a "reasonable suspicion" they are …Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in MassachusettsThe Washington IndependentIn agreement with Arizona deportation lawThe ViewpointICE Proposes New [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 2:18 pm
[...] here: Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … Tags: a-vocal-supporter, argue-for, checks-on-immigration, colorado, has-used, independent, [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 3:19 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 3:33 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 6:41 pm
[...] NewsFederal appeals court strikes down Hazleton's immigration ordinancesPhiladelphia InquirerThe Washington Independent -The Viewpoint -The Associated Pressall 622 news [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
[...] Don'tHuffington Post (blog)Court voids Hazleton, Pa., law targeting illegal immigrantsUSA TodayIllegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in MassachusettsThe Washington IndependentPhiladelphia Inquirer -The Viewpoint -The Associated Pressall [...]
Comment posted September 10, 2010 @ 6:58 pm
They are criminals just being here. Every American taxpayer is being robbed by this welfare mob for every anchor baby they are spitting out rapid fire. I bet Latinas are having babies at a rate (at our expense) that far exceeds the rate of any other race. They don't know how to quit having too many babies, so they come here to suckle on the public dole.
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 8:17 pm
[...] Don'tHuffington Post (blog)Court voids Hazleton, Pa., law targeting illegal immigrantsUSA TodayIllegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in MassachusettsThe Washington IndependentPhiladelphia Inquirer -The Viewpoint -The Associated Pressall [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 8:21 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in Massachusetts « The Washington Indepen… [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 8:47 pm
[...] Post (blog)Court voids Hazleton, Pa., law targeting illegal immigrantsUSA TodaySodaHead News -The Washington Independent -Philadelphia Inquirerall 627 news [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 8:58 pm
[...] Post (blog)Court voids Hazleton, Pa., law targeting illegal immigrantsUSA TodaySodaHead News -The Washington Independent -Philadelphia Inquirerall 628 news [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 9:48 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 11:17 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Comment posted September 10, 2010 @ 10:24 pm
Poor Vickie… it most be difficult to be you. Illegal immigration is a CIVIL Offense and not a Crime. stop the fear-mongering and Hate speech.
Pingback posted September 10, 2010 @ 11:38 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Pingback posted September 11, 2010 @ 5:38 am
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Pingback posted September 11, 2010 @ 6:59 am
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in Massachusetts « The Washington Indepen… [...]
Pingback posted September 11, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Comment posted September 11, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
The way I see it, the problem is the Federal Government, who do not have a way to quickly deport people who are in the country illegally. I advocate a quick (1 week) return to the home country of anyone clearly in the country illegally that is encountered by any arm of our government, and the development of procedures in consulates abroad whereby they can remotely petition the US for reentry from their home country if they have a case for reentry. Currently the situation is the opposite – people illegally in the country are allowed to for years stay here while the government's overburdened bureaucracy processes grind through the court systems of hearings, decisions, and appeals. Sometimes (shockingly) they even get work permits while this is going on.
We have got to decrease the illegal population of more than 11 million, and not by granting amnesty or legalization outside of our normal procedures and regulations.
Pingback posted September 11, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Pingback posted September 12, 2010 @ 10:03 am
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Comment posted September 12, 2010 @ 4:34 pm
As more and more states discover that the fed isn't quite being the fed it should be, Arizona-like laws will spring up. Unfortunately, Mass isn't one of the states actually capable of passing such a law, but at least someone there is noticing.
Comment posted September 12, 2010 @ 4:37 pm
Actually the act of illegal entry is a federal misdemeanor, making it a crime, and it not only can be prosecuted, but it has on occasion. Check the INA for yourself, section 287. A desire to see laws enforced for the public good is hate speech only in your universe.
Comment posted September 12, 2010 @ 9:25 pm
I know “facts” are foreign to “progressives,” but remember it is better to be silent and thought ignorant than to speak and prove it. This coming November is going to send those like you to hiding in Vermont or Rhode Island where you will not be forced to confront reality.
Pingback posted September 14, 2010 @ 5:03 am
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in … [...]
Comment posted September 15, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
I totally agree. Did you know it cost ONE, I repeat, ONE county, I cant say it enough, ONE COUNTY in California 52million dollars in welfare to illegal immigrant parents of those anchor babies. That totally blows my mind.
Comment posted September 28, 2010 @ 10:20 pm
Before mass illegal immigration, these occupatons were handled by Americans: Auto Mechanic, Bricklayer, Carpenter, Electrician, Painter, Tile Layer, Gardener, Janitor, Maid, Gas Station Attendant, Busboy, Cook, etc, etc, etc. They are now handled by illegal immigrants, thereby pushing the Americans into the unemployment lines. The Americans who continue in those occupations have seen there wages drop by 30%. Now who in their right mind thinks that illegal immigration is good for America???
Pingback posted October 2, 2010 @ 9:24 pm
[...] Illegal Immigrant Violence Prompts Vow for Crackdown in Massachusetts « The Washington Indepen… [...]
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
