Deane presents statistics on illegal immigration enforcement
Jason Hornick/News & Messenger
Prince William County police Chief Charlie T. Deane presents a update on the illegal immigrant enforcement by county police after a month of enforcement to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday in Woodbridge
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By Elisa Glushefski
Published: April 2, 2008
In the first month of the Prince William County Police Department’s illegal immigration enforcement initiative, officers arrested 39 illegal immigrants on criminal charges and identified an additional 50.
The numbers came from police Chief Charlie T. Deane’s report on the program’s results that took effect a month ago today, requiring police officers to check the immigration status of individuals when there’s reason to believe that person is in the country illegally.
Deane presented the findings to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors at Tuesday’s public hearing, and again Wednesday at a news conference held to “clarify” the data police provided.
Although the statistics largely leave out the contacts and arrests made by the six-member criminal alien unit, Deane said the unit was called in for two arrests, one in which the person had an outstanding warrant of removal issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The other, Deane said, was taken into custody as an “illegal alien who had entered the country without inspection.”
In all, he said, police made contact with 89 illegal immigrants.
Of those, local charges were placed against 39, 25 were released on traffic or criminal summons and two were taken into custody for federal immigration violations, police said.
Additionally, 21 individuals identified as illegal were released and no charges were placed, Deane said, and two were later determined to be in the country legally.
The felony and misdemeanor charges placed against illegal immigrants since March 3 represent a fraction of arrests typically made in a single month, with the average standing at around 1,100, Deane said.
According to police, the following felony charges were placed: one for attempted murder stemming from a Montgomery County, Md., case; one for cocaine possession; two for grand larceny; one for felony hit and run; and two for shoplifting.
Of the misdemeanor charges placed against illegal immigrants since the start of the program, nine were for drunk in public; three were for domestic assault; eight were for driving under the influence; two were for providing a false ID; five were for no operators license; one for petit larceny; one for possession of marijuana; one for resisting arrest; one for sexual assault; and one for shoplifting.
In the majority of cases, contact was made during a call for service, second to that was traffic for stops.
Stops were also made while police were investigating suspicious persons and vehicles, according to police.
In each of the 89 contacts police had with illegal immigrants, Deane said officers had probable cause to check the person’s status.
Deane did not know how probable cause was developed in those cases, but said that someone providing multiple addresses or driving without a license are examples of indicators that could be used.
“Probable cause is seldom a single factor … and it’s a flexible term,” Deane said Wednesday.
He also defended the two instances where the person was found to be in the country, saying in one of the cases the man thought he was here illegally.
“The circumstances of those cases justified the questioning,” Deane said.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( T Dawg ) on April 14, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Actually many American patriots who signed the same blank check as I, when they joined American Armed Forces gave me that right. Many served, many shed blood, and many died for America and her children. The world calls citizens of the United States of America ‘Americans’. Those south of the border are commonly called either South American or by the name of their country … i.e. Mexicans from Mexico, Argentinians from Argentina, El Salvadorians from El Salvador.
Actually my family on my father’s side has a long history in the United States of America (America). My mother immigrated here from the country of her birth as a child. But surprise of surprises, she went through the proper channels and filled out the necessary forms and she is a naturalized American.
I have many friends along the south Texas border, many of whom are Mexican by culture and birth but American citizens through lawful channels. They own businesses, prosper, and support this country as well as maintain a deep pride in their culture. Many of them during our conversations, has told me, “The only ones who give us trouble here are those who come here illegally”.
Concerning illegal aliens, you say I should ‘get to know one’. I don’t choose to associate with those who consistently elect to break our laws and attempt to do harm to America. Whenever I do meet one (or more) I don’t hesitate to call 1-866-347-2423. In case you don’t recognize that number, it is a toll free number for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Thank you for your thoughts though.
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Posted by ( justice ) on April 14, 2008 at 10:56 am
for Mr. T Dawg… (Sounds Asian to me)...
just wondering! Who died and gave you God’s right to call yourself “Americans”?, since “America” begings from the tip of Alaska to the other end of Argentina!!!! again why should you call yourself American and not the rest of the 43 countries in the “AMERICAN CONTINENT????
and as for Illegals, get to know one!
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Posted by ( T Dawg ) on April 09, 2008 at 10:44 am
FTA - Additionally, 21 individuals identified as illegal were released and no charges were placed
What is wrong with that statement? Only in America will detainees deemed illegal be released from a ‘LAW ENFORCEMENT’ authority.
For those namby-pamby types posting here re: crimes committed by Americans? We have laws in place for those Americans found to have committed a crime and appropriate punishment. The illegal invaders enter the country by breaking the law and continue to do so ... they should be removed from American society immediately.
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Posted by ( jmolina ) on April 08, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I just can’t believe how ignorant some of this posters are about illegal immigration, how in the world you people think that only hispanics are illegals in this country? there illegals from every part of the world the only difference is the color of their skin, but guess who will be most likely to get stopped by PWC police? latinos, of course! how do you call this? isn’t racism? better blame the county government for your misery.
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Posted by ( Rogue ) on April 08, 2008 at 7:18 am
I dont feel any compassion for any ILLEGAL immigrant. Imagine this all you posters that feel sorry or bad somehow…
Imagine you come home from work and find that some people have moved into your house. They are eating your food and have started using your money to pay for their medical needs and schooling. You did not invite these people and when you ask them to leave they dont.
You then try to physically remove them and your neighbors tell you are racists and you should try and help these poor souls.
I dont think a single person who posted here would accept unwanted people in their house.
This is exactly the situatin we have here in PWC. I am not against LEGAL Immagration and I am not a racist. I only want everyone in my community to follow the Rule Of Law and not glom off of the county’s services.
And to those trying to create a grassman argument about PWC Legal Residents breaking laws too… That is a separate issue and doesnt negate the fact that ILLEGAL Immigrants are breakng the law by being here and should be deported post hast!
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Posted by ( cjcanu01 ) on April 06, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Well, when I saw a sign in the back window of a automobile driving around Woodbridge last year w/ several hispanics inside of it that read “LOOK OUT P.W.C. HERE WE COME”, I gathered my opinion immediately and it has yet to change.
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Posted by ( kingcjfam ) on April 05, 2008 at 7:02 am
I do feel for the Hispanic population because the PWC police have been harassing black americans for years. My husband who is a professional in this county has been pulled over and searched, my son has been stopped on two separate occasions, no citation was given for the “routine traffic stop”. Driving while Black is very real! If this continues I am going to file a formal complaint. If anyone else is having this issue please email me!!!
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Posted by ( phdee ) on April 04, 2008 at 1:47 pm
jtime, are you going to provide statistics for US citizens in PWC who commit the same crimes you allege Hispanics do, or do you actually believe Americans don’t do such? If so, why are our jails and prisons full?
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Posted by ( dave ) on April 03, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Cory Stewart’s Gestapo has been busy checking “identity papers”. Next the hate mongers in Prince William County will want to reinstitute segregation to save “our” culture. Can’t wait for hate crimes to be brought against Stewart, Letiecq, and the rest of the hate mongers.
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Posted by ( phdee ) on April 03, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Where are the “savings” getting rid of the iullegals was supposed to bring. From the “crimes” (DUI, shoplifting, hit and run, drugs, etc.) it appears to me that the illegals were just trying to assimilate into American society, i.e. doing what the Americans do.
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