ST. LOUIS (AP) - Six weeks into the state’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, 52 arrests have been made - with most of those arrested caught in routine traffic stops, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported today.
Some have hailed Gov. Matt Blunt’s new policy, but others worry it leads to racial profiling of Hispanics.
The Post-Dispatch report said more than half of detainees were passengers. One had a flat tire. Others were pulled over for speeding or failure to use a turn signal properly.
"I’ve never heard of anyone who is not Hispanic being taken in for failing to use the turn signal," said Tony Rothert, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union office in St. Louis. He believes the Missouri State Highway Patrol lacks a "coherent policy" for deciding whom to arrest.
Blunt began the crackdown on Aug. 27. He pointed to an illegal immigrant from Peru accused of committing a triple murder in New Jersey while free on bail on a rape charge. Blunt said an earlier immigration check could have prevented the killings.
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Oct/20071025News017.asp
2007-10-25 16:37:30 · 19 answers · asked by ShoeShine 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Hip hip hurray for St. Louie!!
I can't believe that they inly got 52 in 6 weeks though!
2007-10-25 16:43:15 · answer #1 · answered by rachek 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think that it's great that we've arrested 52 of them, however, I wish it were a lot more. As to what the legal director from the ACLU said about not having ever heard of anyone who's not Hispanic being taken in for failing to use the turn signal. It's just totally ridiculous. First of all my grandfather is a cop, in a town with very few hispanics, and yet the people they pull over most often are for violations like failing to use a turn signal or failure to come to a complete stop. Time has shown that the people who do small things like this are often doing something else wrong. He could also have seen it on COPS, where they pull people over for this stuff all the time. And beyond that they weren't taken in for failing to use their turn signal, they were stopped for that, they were taken in for being here illegally and thus breaking our law.
2007-10-26 00:10:37 · answer #2 · answered by Ruby Winter 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The fact is, the immigration crackdown is only on folks with outstanding warrents for arrest. When we finally have a president that enforces the Immigration Law, those numbers will be in the thousands for a while, and many illegal aliens will be selling their goods, and going home without any effort on the part of the Immigration Service at all.
2007-10-26 00:29:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that key was who ever did not have proper ID. If the police asked for ID you have to provide it. There was a test case in the Supreme Court. There was two men from Texas, citizens, who were ( as I remember it) walking at night that had been drinking, the cops asked for ID the two men felt that the police did not have probably cause, so they refused, so they were arrested. The judges said the after 911, it was not unreasonable to have people provide ID in the public view. For illegals and their supporters, they do not want to acknowledge that being in this country without permission is a misdemeanor,and a deportable offense. The add that driving a auto is a privilege not a right, so if you are pulled over for any reason they have every right to question your status.
2007-10-25 23:53:19 · answer #4 · answered by jean 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
very sad....about 1 per day? Does he have any idea how many illegals are in St. Louis?
Just another example of the problem law enforcement faces when trying to help homeland security do their job.
The police don't have resources or power to be catching illegals. Homeland security needs to get on the stick, but already 6 years have passed, and little is being done.
2007-10-25 23:44:22 · answer #5 · answered by gg 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think it is about time. We have had raids in factories here in Illinois. Two in my city that got 68 at one and 11 at another. All of the illegals were working thru temp agencies that dont bother checking the papers they present. The 11 illegals were all using the same SS#.. These jobs they were all doing were filled with no loss of production by legal citizens.
2007-10-26 10:09:04 · answer #6 · answered by mnwomen 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm thrilled about it. Every state should enforce the same type of action. I know when they busted the meat packing plants in my state, they got hundreds of illegals. All companies should do a voluntary check on their emplyoees and SS#'s that have more than one source of income should all be checked regularly! We will prevail one way or another. Americans for Americans are on the rise!
2007-10-26 15:08:15 · answer #7 · answered by Ms.L.A. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it gets those that are illegally here I don't mind if I get stopped. I have nothing to hide, this profiling balloney is the same as being called racist because we are anti-illegal. Y'all have to realize no pain no gain, many men & women gave their lives to defend this country So you & I could have the freedom that we have. And now we are willing to just allow these illegals to take it away. If you are looking for sympathy for illegals here you are barking up the wrong tree. America love it or get the hell out!!!!!!!!!
2007-10-26 00:06:34 · answer #8 · answered by GREGORIOUSITY 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I am glad to see this happening but that should be 52 arrests a day not in 6 weeks.
2007-10-26 12:14:41 · answer #9 · answered by LadyAmerican 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The problem I see with this is that if they are profiling hispanics then illegals of other races and nationalities aren't being targeted. I don't care where your from or what color your skin is if you are here illegally you should be caught and deported
2007-10-26 00:17:22 · answer #10 · answered by Bishop 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋