Acambaro case fuels clash over 287(g) program and Illegal Executed!

The operators of Acambaro Mexican Restaurants are expected to plead guilty this week to charges stemming from a December raid of the company’s restaurants. The raid was the first carried out by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Immigration Criminal Apprehension Task Force, a partnership between area law enforcement agencies and U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Task-force supporters say the raid exemplifies how using local officers to enforce federal immigration law is a rousing success. Opponents of the task force, created last September under section 287 (g ) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, say the raid proves all of their fears true. Arturo Reyes Jr., 35, and wife Silvia Reyes, 36, both of Rogers; Armando Reyes, 33, of Lowell; and Lucila Huaracha, 33, also of Lowell; are set for a changeof-plea hearing Thursday in U. S. District Court in Fayetteville. All are suspected illegal aliens. The four were among 23 people arrested in the December raid. The Reyeses and Huaracha had pleaded innocent to charges of harboring and shielding illegal aliens. The raid was the result of a two-year investigation, police have said.

Jim Miranda, a self-described Hispanic-rights advocate (an over-rated leftist) from Bella Vista, said the raid illustrates the problem with having local police involved in immigration issues. “I don’t believe a business should be singled out because they see a group of brown people working in the kitchen,”(does anybody think the Federal Agents just walked into the kitchen's w/out a case?) Miranda said last week. Miranda contends that the program has operated differently than what was presented to the community — that it would be limited to targeting hardened criminals who are in the country illegally. “This has everything to do with civil liberties and racial profiling,” he said (so the police are racist?) . Miranda said he was initially pleased by the work of Springdale Police Chief Kathy O’Kelley, who sought input from area Hispanic leaders while her city applied to be part of the federal program. Now, he feels betrayed, Miranda said. “She gave us a commitment that it was going to be used to affect serious crime,” Miranda said. “We believed her.” O’Kelley said defining serious crime can be subjective. “Have you ever been the victim of identity theft? If you were, you would think that is a very serious crime,” she said (Great Response!). There is certainly room for refinement, O’Kelley said, but the 287 (g ) program is the best way for local agencies to deal with criminal activity by illegal residents, O’Kelley said. “I think we are still finding our way with how this task force is going to work,” she said. Members of the Reyes family and attorneys for both sides declined to comment prior to the hearing. In addition to the criminal charges, civil forfeiture proceedings seeking 11 properties worth $ 3. 5 million also are pending against the restaurant operators. Once the criminal proceedings conclude, deportation proceedings may begin against the Reyeses and Huaracha.

Rogers Mayor Steve Womack, the driving force in bringing the 287 (g ) program to Northwest Arkansas, said it’s simply enforcing the law. Womack said his vision for the program was to expand the reach of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Limiting the scope of the program would be foolish, he said. “I think it’s working beautifully,” he said. The task force is credited with processing 262 illegal aliens for deportation between December and March 20, according to information from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Miranda said Hispanics are more harshly prosecuted for white-collar crimes. He points to the case of former Centerton Mayor Ken Williams, who assumed the identity of dead man and lived under an assumed name for decades. His secret identity was discovered last year by reporters from the Benton County Daily Record. Williams, who was born Don LaRose (A US citizen) , was allowed by a judge to keep the name he assumed in the 1980 s (should still have been punished for ID theft) . To date, he has not been charged with any crime, despite using someone else’s Social Security number for years. “I’m not going to let Northwest Arkansas not focus on its hypocrisy with what happened with Don LaRose,” Miranda said. (so anybody with dark skin can commit ID theft b/c 1 white guy got away with it)

awallworth@arkansasonline. com
287 (g ) timeline November 2007 Rogers pursues the 287 (g ) program under which local police are trained and certified to enforce federal immigration laws. Aug. 14, 2007 The Rogers and Springdale police departments and the Benton and Washington county sheriff’s offices announce they’ll send a total of 19 officers to 287 (g ) training. Sept. 18, 2007 The 19 officers from the four agencies graduate from 287 (g ) training. Sept. 25, 2007 The four agencies finalize 287 (g ) agreements with U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The area’s Immigration Criminal Apprehension Task Force is formed. Oct. 5, 2007 The first person arrested by the task force is charged with a federal crime. Heriberto Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 44, was charged in U. S. District Court in Fayetteville with illegal re-entry by an aggravated felon. October 2007 The task force will crack down on illegal aliens who commit identify theft and document fraud to get jobs. Dec. 10, 2007 The task force raids Acambaro restaurants and Garcia’s Distribution Co., arresting 23 suspected illegal aliens, seizing more than $ 3 million in property and freezing the companies’ bank accounts. December 2007 Acambaro operators Arturo Reyes Jr.; his wife, Silvia; his brother, Armando Reyes; and Lucila Huaracha each are charged with harboring illegal aliens for financial gain. They all plead innocent. Dec. 27, 2007 Area Hispanic leaders denounce the Acambaro raids, saying the task force should be arresting serious offenders, not targeting Hispanic business owners over their hiring practices. May 7 Defense attorneys for the Reyeses and Huaracha file a motion seeking dismissal of the case. July 17 Change-of-plea hearing reset to Aug. 7.
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/233165/

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Texas puts justice over the arrogant Mexican Government and World Court!
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