Escondido PD kicking ass. Illegals screaming
I think I just said this in another post: "Illegals and their supporters don't even want murderers and child molesters deported." Why? Because those scum are members of their families. "Good ol' Tio Jose. So, he served time for rape, so what? He's an OTHERWISE law-abiding person..." Escondido is taking a novel approach. They're not 287 (g) certified. And if you can read thru the bullshit haze you'll get it. They ARE NOT conducting immigration 'SWEEPS," they're targeting specific CRIMINALS who also happen to be illegal aliens. And the problem is? Well, read what the lying, whining, race-baiters and demagogues have to say.
Good idea, Escondido. But why not get certified thru ICE?
In its attempt to rid itself of illegal immigrants, the city of Escondido recently took another controversial step into federal territory when its police force conducted sweeps aimed at arresting criminal illegal immigrants.
Others have said that local law enforcers risked public safety in immigrant communities if they are seen to be working too closely with federal immigration authorities.
Acting largely on its own, the Escondido Police Department recently conducted a sweep using its officers that netted 14 illegal immigrants wanted for deportation and for criminal violations.
Escondido officials said the three-day operation was simply aimed at ridding the city of criminals. But immigrant rights activists said it was another misguided incursion into a racially explosive minefield.
Escondido Councilman Ed Gallo disagreed, saying that most residents agree with the city's actions, including longtime Latino residents.
"I've talked to a lot of people and to a person, they object to the (illegal immigrant) people coming," Gallo said.
Activists say that city officials are not listening to a large segment of population in Escondido, where Latinos make up about 40 percent of the population.
Mack said Thursday that the agency helped the city by verifying that those people targeted were illegal immigrants. She said 11 of the 14 people turned over to them were deported and three are in custody.
Last spring, the Escondido council adopted a policy that says police officers can confirm the identity and immigration status of people anytime they are detained, even for minor offenses. The city's police officers are also authorized to check the immigration status of unlicensed drivers and call the Border Patrol if the person is here illegally.
A federal immigration agent is stationed in the Escondido police headquarters part time to conduct those background checks.
Escondido isn't the only local law enforcement agency to have forged closer working relationships with immigration authorities in recent years. For instance, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department has begun checking the immigration status of inmates in its jails.
Benton said the idea for the sweep came from patrol officers who often ran into criminals they had arrested and who had been deported.
They compiled a list of about 70 people who had long criminal records ranging from rape to assault with a deadly weapon.
"We want to rid Escondido of criminals who are stealing our cars, committing robberies, breaking into our homes," Benton said.
But immigrant rights and civil rights groups criticized the sweep, saying this kind of use of police officers could fracture an already fragile relationship with the Latino community.
They say the city is increasingly alienating the Latino community with policies that take aim at illegal immigrants, the majority of whom are Latino.
And the sight of U.S. Border Patrol agents in Escondido at the same time as Escondido police were conducting their sweep only heightened those fears, activists said.
Consuelo Martinez, who heads the grass-roots group Escondido Human Rights Committee, said she received numerous calls from people frightened by U.S. Border Patrol vehicles in Escondido during the same time as the sweeps.
"It's what scares people into thinking that they are collaborating with immigration," said Martinez.
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