View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2006 > September > 21
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Immigration policy affects us all
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The argument over immigration policy is not new and, frankly, sometimes fades into the category of someone else’s problem.
The President has called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform to secure our borders, enhance worksite enforcement, create a temporary worker program, resolve the status of illegal immigrants already here, and promote assimilation into our society, including by learning English.*
How does it directly affect you?
In Sandy Springs, we have an area exclusively inhabited by the Hispanic community. Most are illegal and work in day-labor status or in the various construction industries. Most live in very modest apartments. Many drive with no license and no insurance. Some have false identification. Many of these residents receive a paycheck on Friday, cash that paycheck at the check-cashing center, and then wire that money home or use it for weekly expenses.
Every Friday thieves, prostitutes, and drug dealers work the area to get some of that money. That’s no surprise. With so much cash on hand, it’s a natural move for criminals. There are few bank accounts because these illegal residents don’t have Social Security numbers.
You would think that in this day and time, someone would have a hard time disappearing but with no documentation or fraudulent documentation, but it can be done. The local crime rate does affect you and the actions of those who are involved in it affect you.
We experienced two homicides recently. One suspect is from Brazil and the other from Mexico. .We expected both to make an attempt to leave the country. It appears they did and may have already gotten out of the country; one with fraudulent identification and one, traveling to Mexico, may have done so without having to use a passport or any legitimate identification.
Many police departments now have to contend with crimes committed by and against residents who have no documentation, making the process of finding those who commit crimes, much more difficult and sometimes impossible.
Sooner or later we’re all going to be affected by this. How in the heck are we going to be able to account for people so that we can successfully investigate crimes involving those who are not U.S. citizens? How do we offer protection for those honest, hard-working people who are often the victims of cash-robberies where the suspects just drop off the face of the earth?
*Source: www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigration
