Illegals Leaving!
By MELISSA NELSON, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jun 27, 2:27 PM ET
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - The sheriff's department has developed a remarkably effective - and controversial - way of catching illegal immigrants: Deputies in patrol cars pull up to a construction site in force, and watch and see who runs.
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Those who take off are chased down and arrested on charges such as trespassing, for cutting through someone else's property, or loitering, for hiding out in someone's yard, or reckless driving, for speeding off in a car.
U.S. immigration authorities are then given the names of those believed to be in this country illegally.
"It's not wrong for them to run, but it's not wrong for us to chase them either," said Sheriff Frank McKeithen, who created his Illegal Alien Task Force in April to target construction sites in this Florida Panhandle county.
Immigrant advocates say the technique is repugnant, and the ACLU says its constitutionality is questionable.
Illegal immigrants are leaving town. And builders are worried the crackdown will deprive them of the labor they need to take part in a building boom in which Panama City's Beach cheap spring-break motels are being torn down and replaced with high-rise condos.
The sheriff said the raids are justified under a long-standing Florida law prohibiting employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
His department has conducted dozens of these raids over the past three months, sometimes using five or six patrol cars, and has reported more than 500 people to immigration officials since November.
The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund is investigating the arrests because "the intimidation factor is of great concern," said Elise Shore, regional counsel for the organization.
Benjamin Stevenson, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida, said he finds the tactic troubling.
"Why are they sending out six or seven agents to investigate a paper crime, and are they causing them to run in the first place through intimidation?" he asked.
As the debate over illegal immigration plays out in Washington, McKeithen is among a growing number of state and local officials taking it upon themselves to enforce immigration laws that up to now were regarded as a federal responsibility.
For example, Farmers Branch, Texas, is trying to prohibit apartment rentals to illegal immigrants in the Dallas suburb. Georgia passed a law requiring employers to verify the immigration status of all new employees.
Barbara Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami, would not comment on the sheriff's tactics.
McKeithen has asked Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum for a legal opinion on his tactics. A spokeswoman for McCollum said the office is researching the request.
McKeithen is already under fire from civil rights groups over the videotaped 2006 death of a 14-year-old boy who was roughed up by guards at a juvenile boot camp operated by the sheriff's department. Eight former employees are facing manslaughter charges.
The sheriff said that more recently, his officers have been making fewer arrests of workers who flee, and are concentrating more on asking employers for the paperwork on their employees. Sheriff's deputies then arrest workers whose documents are found to be fraudulent.
Mexican illegal immigrant Jose Madrid, 28, said he has been unable to find a construction job over the past six weeks because of the crackdown, and hasn't been able to send money to his parents and his 7-year-old son back home.
"We immigrants, we are leaving Panama City. People are afraid they will be deported," he said. "The companies don't want to hire illegal people. Now they're only hiring those with papers."
Developer Louis Breland is finishing the first phase of a $750 million beach condo project.
"Subcontractors could not function without immigrant laborers for painting, rebar and steel work. They are the best workers," he said. "Without them, the cost of construction would be 10 times as much and nothing would get built."
Wed Jun 27, 2:27 PM ET
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - The sheriff's department has developed a remarkably effective - and controversial - way of catching illegal immigrants: Deputies in patrol cars pull up to a construction site in force, and watch and see who runs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Those who take off are chased down and arrested on charges such as trespassing, for cutting through someone else's property, or loitering, for hiding out in someone's yard, or reckless driving, for speeding off in a car.
U.S. immigration authorities are then given the names of those believed to be in this country illegally.
"It's not wrong for them to run, but it's not wrong for us to chase them either," said Sheriff Frank McKeithen, who created his Illegal Alien Task Force in April to target construction sites in this Florida Panhandle county.
Immigrant advocates say the technique is repugnant, and the ACLU says its constitutionality is questionable.
Illegal immigrants are leaving town. And builders are worried the crackdown will deprive them of the labor they need to take part in a building boom in which Panama City's Beach cheap spring-break motels are being torn down and replaced with high-rise condos.
The sheriff said the raids are justified under a long-standing Florida law prohibiting employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
His department has conducted dozens of these raids over the past three months, sometimes using five or six patrol cars, and has reported more than 500 people to immigration officials since November.
The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund is investigating the arrests because "the intimidation factor is of great concern," said Elise Shore, regional counsel for the organization.
Benjamin Stevenson, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida, said he finds the tactic troubling.
"Why are they sending out six or seven agents to investigate a paper crime, and are they causing them to run in the first place through intimidation?" he asked.
As the debate over illegal immigration plays out in Washington, McKeithen is among a growing number of state and local officials taking it upon themselves to enforce immigration laws that up to now were regarded as a federal responsibility.
For example, Farmers Branch, Texas, is trying to prohibit apartment rentals to illegal immigrants in the Dallas suburb. Georgia passed a law requiring employers to verify the immigration status of all new employees.
Barbara Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami, would not comment on the sheriff's tactics.
McKeithen has asked Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum for a legal opinion on his tactics. A spokeswoman for McCollum said the office is researching the request.
McKeithen is already under fire from civil rights groups over the videotaped 2006 death of a 14-year-old boy who was roughed up by guards at a juvenile boot camp operated by the sheriff's department. Eight former employees are facing manslaughter charges.
The sheriff said that more recently, his officers have been making fewer arrests of workers who flee, and are concentrating more on asking employers for the paperwork on their employees. Sheriff's deputies then arrest workers whose documents are found to be fraudulent.
Mexican illegal immigrant Jose Madrid, 28, said he has been unable to find a construction job over the past six weeks because of the crackdown, and hasn't been able to send money to his parents and his 7-year-old son back home.
"We immigrants, we are leaving Panama City. People are afraid they will be deported," he said. "The companies don't want to hire illegal people. Now they're only hiring those with papers."
Developer Louis Breland is finishing the first phase of a $750 million beach condo project.
"Subcontractors could not function without immigrant laborers for painting, rebar and steel work. They are the best workers," he said. "Without them, the cost of construction would be 10 times as much and nothing would get built."
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run forest run
i like this idea0 -
That's some great, low-tech police work.
Look, I don't have a single with people hiring immigrant labor. I have no problem with said immigrants sending money home to their families.
As long as they are here legally.
This is not a difficult concept. We simply don't owe anybody anything if they circumvent our immigration laws.0 -
Now if communities all across 'merica would start doing this, maybe the federal gubment would get the massage.
Hate to hear they are tearing down the cheap motels in PC. Now it will become a concrete playground for semi-rich yuppies. I hate those concrete monstrosities that are popping up on the beaches.0 -
I remember when we'd wear combat boots, fatigue pants and long-sleeved black tshirts with boonie caps. We'd drive down the road in a van to a seedy part of town until we passed a house with a bunch of people out front (in the middle of the day in the middle of the week) in lawn chairs drinkin 40oz malt liquor. We turned around and drove by again, hitting our breaks and stopping in front of the house. It was funny to see them scatter. 0 -
This sheriff should get an award for creativity. I can't believe the feeble excuses used against him for doing his job. We are fast becoming a nation of idiots. It's too bad if criminals feel intimidated. Don't break the law and that won't happen to you I say. 0 -
They need to arrest the employers as well[:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!] 0 -
What gets me is everyone wants to run the illegals out, have to come in legally, BUT what about the ones from Cuba?
All they have to do is set foot on land here and they stay....Kind of a double standard....they come in, no papers etc but dont let anyone else try it..0 -
i think it has to do with the regime the cubans are coming from? 0 -
I am surprised that the tactic works. Here, when the Border Patrol pulls up to raid, often the ones who flee are the legals. While BP chases them, the illegals slip away. If they catch a legal who fled, they can do nothing to him(her). 0 -
[:D][:D][:D] The Second Class Citizens are not going to like this. Let me rephrase that, "some" Second Class Citizens are not gouing to like this. 0 -
quote:"Without them, the cost of construction would be 10 times as much and nothing would get built."
greedy meanie, americans do that kind of work, but not for $100/day0 -
quote:the ACLU says its constitutionality is questionable
Finally they start turning their eyes towards their own organization...
As far as the article goes, I think it's pretty damn awesome.0 -
I think the only solution to the problem is to deport all those gypsy "immigration" advocates and start prosecuting businesses hiring illegal immigrants. And for those who don't know -- the laws and rules don't need to be created or changed -- they already exist. Has anyone here ever fill out I-9 form? It's called "Employment Eligibility Verification". Instead of spending millions and thousands of man hours on stupid bills like "comprehensive immigration reform" the government should spend that money and effort on auditing businesses and prosecuting those that don't comply with the law. 0 -
Good ol' Zulu, i used to see your name on here all the time, now you only chime in once in a while. hows life? 0 -
Run,run little rabbit run!![:D][:D] 0 -
quote:SuburbanNoize
Member
USA
983 Posts
Posted - 06/28/2007 : 12:29:36 PM
i think it has to do with the regime the cubans are coming from?
Who the hell cares what regime or gov't or whatever they are coming from...If you are going to do it for one group of ppl then do it for all or NONE ....Stop the freakin double standard...0 -
quote:Originally posted by BlackRoses
Who the hell cares what regime or gov't or whatever they are coming from...If you are going to do it for one group of ppl then do it for all or NONE ....Stop the freakin double standard...
Well, you definitely should care -- they are going to vote according to their upbringing. Look at how NY and CA coast votes, why do you think that is?0 -
And do you vote according to your upbringing???? or are you reasonably intelligent enough to listen to the parties and then vote?? 0 -
Toss 'em over the border and tell them if they come back, we shoot to kill. Then do it a few times- illegal immigration will end very quickly.
The ACLU says that constitutional rights are in issue? How? These people aren't citizens, aren't here on work visas- they could be spies for all we know! To hell with what I just said, just start hanging them!0 -
What the hell ever happened to prosecuting businesses who hire illegals? I gather it only takes 12.5 seconds to have a faux Social Security card now days, but really... 0 -
"The ACLU says its constitutionality is questionable."
Since when do illegal aliens have constitutional rights?0 -
The last lines are the very sad indeed
"Subcontractors could not function without immigrant laborers for painting, rebar and steel work. They are the best workers," he said. "Without them, the cost of construction would be 10 times as much and nothing would get built."
Folks 10% no matter what the Cost of living of an area IMO can only constitute some people desire to still use slave labor in this country.....
And those are all considered skilled labor jobs here.
Best workers...Hmmm I know a landscaper that uses Mexican help...
Oner the last three wks they have cost him $ 8000 in fines and damages for a false fire alarm and purposely damaging the paint job on a Jeff Gordon Ltd Ed Monte Carlo. Well the freaking profit must be real good. Because they are still working there....0
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