Pensacola Sheriff Hall doing the right thing. Illegals whining to the heavens.
I've heard all the standard bullshit alibis sooo many times I know them by heart." It's a federal matter..it will cost too much..they need to go after serious criminals...they're racially profiling..they're spreading fear in the immigrant community.." I believe I blogged about this guy before and he has a great idea. Document fraud is something he can prosecute. So, they do checks on businesses looking for screwed up documents. Bogus ID? "You in a heap of trouble."
To Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall, the issue is simple: Uphold the law.
In recent weeks, Hall's department has been cracking down on undocumented workers, checking businesses to determine if employees are using fraudulent documentation, such as stolen Social Security numbers.
So far, the so-called Area Improvement Management team has checked 22 businesses and arrested 27 people all of them Hispanic.
"I hope we don't have to put any more in jail," Hall said. "Hopefully, they're going to realize they're going to have to do it the right way or they're going to have to move out of Santa Rosa County."
The raids have created a firestorm, with opponents accusing the Sheriff's Office of racism, racial profiling and essentially terrorizing Spanish-speaking immigrants.
Hall acknowledged that the arrests are further burdening the already overcrowded county jail. The jail has an official capacity of 500, but housed 569 inmates Friday.
"Yes, it is adding more people to the jail," he said. "Nevertheless, when someone is committing a felony, we have to do what we have to do."
The 27 workers arrested so far are charged with using false documents Social Security numbers to obtain employment, a third-degree felony. They remain in the Santa Rosa County Jail on holds from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The Public Defender's Office is to represent all the suspects, scheduled for arraignment on March 5.
If Immigration and Customs Enforcement decides to intervene, the undocumented workers could all face deportation.
"My jail only holds 1,450 people. Right now, I have a population right at 1,800," he said. "I don't need to go out and generate any more crime to overload an overloaded jail on issues where I think you have to step back and look at the big picture."
The scale of the problem makes it impractical for local law enforcement agencies to take on such a task, he said.
"The Congress of the United States cannot figure out what to do with illegals. There are over 20 million illegals in the United States,'' he said. "I have a hard time understanding how putting workers in jail in Santa Rosa County is going to fix the illegal problem." Well, let me expalin it to you, dipshit. These ARE criminals. You're a cop. Do your job. Oh, you just want to ignore crime with a "It's not my job" attitude? You pick and choose what crimes to enforce? Asshole. How many crimes are being committed by illegals who are repeat offenders? Would they still be committing crimes here if their asses were deported? If every jail and alw enforcement agency got involved the problem would quickly abate. It's the do-nothings that are the problem.
"I hear all of the installers whether it's a tile installer, carpet installer, cabinet, roofing, whatever all of them are saying they can't compete with the immigrants because they don't follow the same rules," he said.
Shane King, who owns a landscaping business in Milton, said Hall is simply doing his job.
"When we elect someone sheriff, if they don't do their job, we're going to be upset with them," King said. "The sheriff's duty is to arrest or detain all law violators, period." That's EXACTLY correct.
Let me share part of the sidebar on the story. This is great. They name the businesses they check and how many employees got arrested.
Panhandle Growers-Allentown: 23 inspected, 13 arrested.
-- Hiawatha Nursery-Navarre: 1 inspected, 1 arrested.
-- La Hacienda-Milton: 9 inspected, 5 arrested.
-- La Hacienda-Pace: 8 inspected, 5 arrested.
-- Publix-Gulf Breeze: 38 inspected, 0 arrested.
-- Air Products-Pace: 12 inspected, 0 arrested.
If anyone would like to thank Sheriff Hall for doing his job.
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Wow, that's a rather interesting way to prosecute the illegals. It kind of cool the mash-up legal loopholes that some prosecutors are using to get them. I wonder if it will create a whole new explosion of 21st century legal precedent.
Comment by John the Roofing guy— 2008/02/25 @ 10:14 PM — (Reply)
There are problems with the Santa Co, Jail Staff and their Sherrif. Havent heard cause of death of 19 yr old who died there in Feb 2008 yet.
Staff , to my personal knowlege, only reacts (and in the extreme) when something bothers THEM.
They sent another 19 yr old to Prison for 3 YEARS on his FIRST Felony, arson- burning a styrafoam cup for tatto ink, Damage was appraised at $1.00.
Nevermnd where the contaband CAME from, and the lack of knowlege of the cell mate- who had done time before, and was knowlegable about jail house tattos.
Before you run your fingers about what a good Sherrif this is. Do some research. Yeah, that will stop illeagals from being in Santa Rosa, thats ALL hes concerned about.
Comment by In Florida— 2008/03/04 @ 10:38 AM — (Reply)
If it is honest, pious, devout Christians that you want populating Santa Rosa County, then those of you who support driving the illegals out are hypocrites. But what else can we expect from Xenophobic Rednecks! Having spent the better part of my childhood in SRC, I am not surprised by these fascist sentiments. We have to maintain our racial purity - Crimson Forearms and Flowing Blonde Mullets Unite!
But seriously, what have the illegals in SRC done but help reconstruct your homes after Ivan and support their families with a long, exhausting day's work that none of the rest of you would like to do or could do without your morning joint and 12-pack lunch.
These are not criminals with outstanding warrants, fleeing misdoings in their homeland but people in violation of civil laws that cause them to be outside of authentic US citizenship. This is a witch hunt designed to drum up support for Hall's reelection. He got bored. He got creative. Hows about cracking down on Meth Labs?! And others who are a danger to themselves and creating dangerous trends in America's rural landscape.
No Teeth, No Job, Burn Marks, Trailer on Fire? These would be the people to profile in the SRC.
Though I watch this controversy from 3k miles away, I still cringe for those who remain (like my family).
Comment by thursty4moore— 2008/06/10 @ 08:27 PM — (Reply)
Did you know that 74% of farm workers are legal and over 80% of construction workers? No, and you don't care because you'll keep spewing the myths about jobs Americans won't do. Did you know the United States allows more legal immigration than the rest of the world combined? Probably not, but that fact doesn't matter to bleeding-hearts and idealists. No matter how many we let in it's never enough.
Did you know that illegally entering this country in a federal crime, it's a misdemeanor. Did you know the second time they're caught it's a felony? Do you have any idea how many use stolen or bogus federal documents? Did you know those acts are felonies? Did you know that one in ten crossers has a criminal record?
We have millions and millions of people that played by the rules and I salute them, no matter their race nor ethnicity. Sadly, we have millions that don't think the rules should apply to them. And as they have shown a contempt for this nation I have a contempt for them.
Comment by Burns— 2008/06/11 @ 09:15 PM — (Reply)
think you for the good work you do sheriff hall.god bless you !! jan r..
Comment by — 2008/10/01 @ 02:48 PM — (Reply)