By A Concerned Irving, Texas Citizen
LatinaLista
Today’s Guest Voz is a longtime Latino community leader in Irving, Texas, and herself an immigrant. In Irving, the local police have opted to be a part of ICE’s nationwide Criminal Alien Program or CAP. In this program, the local police help ICE by identifying those people suspected of being in the country illegally after they’ve been arrested and brought to jail for an offense.
The problem is that the local police are being accused of stopping Latino motorists indiscriminately and targeting them even when no crime has been committed. Because of these actions, the number of undocumented immigrants being arrested and deported from Irving has skyrocketed to the point that the Mexican consulate has issued a travel warning for Irving.
Our guest writer brings her perspective to the issue and shares her feelings.
(Editor’s note: The reason why she is not identified is that she could not be reached in time before posting to get her permission.)
Tempers flare as supporters and critics clash at rally protesting how Irving, TX police enforce CAP program.
(Source: cbs11tv)
Irving, Texas has problems.
We thought we won a lot by having the 247G law in place. The Criminal Alien Program or CAP is an alternative local program implemented by the police department headed by Chief Boyd.
Ever since, apparently, police officers have taken their job very seriously. There have been rumors that the Irving police officers are abusing this authority. There is no doubt that there has been arrests made of illegal immigrants that are violating the traffic laws and after being asked for an ID, they end up at a detention center, then at a deportation center.
All of us (in Irving) are very concerned, and a group of Dallas activists are making their concerns known to the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. They are arguing that the recent actions occurring lately represent 2,347 immigrants of Hispanic descent deported for traffic related offenses.
The activists argue that this program racially profiles Hispanics and that it is used to deport immigrants en masse for minor traffic offenses.
Apparently, the Irving police department conducted massive unannounced raids on seven apartment complexes without search warrants and with no particular suspects in mind and without probable cause.
The apartments raided had predominant Hispanic populations and it was a fact that no other apartments were raided in the City of Irving.
The situation, as stated in the letter of concern, addressed to the Department of Justice, explains how the situation has become so critical that the Mexican Consulate has issued a travel advisory urging Mexican immigrants to stay away from Irving. The Consulate of El Salvador has done the same.
Activists mentioned that a violation of civil rights is taking place while City Council member Beth Van Duyne is bringing a lot of animosity dividing the Irving City Council with very negative comments against illegal immigrants — she calls them sex offenders.
The activists mentioned that her negative comments and labeling children as criminals and drug addicts shouldn’t come from a representative of the Irving City Council.
Her political mindset in saying that illegal aliens are criminals is creating a lot of animosity against the Hispanic community in Irving.
I believe Herb Gears, the Mayor and Chief Boyd, as well as City Manager Tommy Gonzalez don’t want to break the good communication with the immigrant community. There have been long meetings with the Irving Hispanic Leadership.
They have pledged, in a closed meeting with activists, that they would review on a one-on-one one basis every offense from anybody that complains. They said they will perform an analysis of each case brought to them with specifics.
They mentioned they want an open and continued dialog — They don’t want the economy of Irving to be damaged and our image to be like that of Farmers Branch.
There is no question that the level of fear from our immigrant communities is up to the ceiling! There has been talk of making Irving a sanctuary city, but authorities don’t want to see this.
I clearly see two legal aspects that are working in parallel:
The legal Aspect – a Myth or a true fact
Our Hispanic immigrant communities are breaking the law very openly and visibly:Driving with no ID’s
Driving with no driver’s license
Driving with no insurance
Family violence and drug and alcohol abuse are the highest among them.
Driving while intoxicated
Driving with suspended driver’s licensesOn the other hand, the police officers are taking the CAP law into their own hands and making illegal arrests and illegal deportations through ICE.
There is a humanistic and moral side to the issue:Immigrants come here for the strong reasons we know.
They don’t have their legal status so they cannot receive a driver’s license since they don’t have a social security card — it’s all one vicious circle.I understand their suffering and how they have to work 2 jobs, receive minimum wage and as a consequence must leave their children abandoned the whole day which creates teenagers without identity, self-esteem, etc.
This also leads to: at-risk children and youth who drop out of school, teenage pregnancy, gang participation, crime and welfare.
I believe education is the key to everything.
• Educate the parents.
• Educate the children.
• Educate the youth.
• Educate our authorities about diversity and multiculturalism.
An open dialog with panelists in both languages could open a forum for authorities and the community to discuss and ask questions, to educate the community about precautionary measures, safety measures, recycling, etc.
From my end, I am between the wall and the knife, as we word in Spanish, (entre la espada y la pared). The Mayor is on the board of our non-profit corporation that assists Hispanic immigrants. He has done a lot for us.
He told us that the 247 CAP program would protect our illegal immigrants from being picked up from the streets by federal agents, but now, things turned (who knows, even worse) as the deportations reflect the highest figures nationwide.
I suspect that our illegal immigrants are suffering more and their fears, insecurities and barriers now run deeper.
Boycotts, marches and rallies bring more animosity and confuse a lot of people. I am not for it, as I respect and love the Irving authorities. I have worked with them for 10 years and they have always been supportive, kind, respectful and helpful.
The City allows our non-profit to use Parks and Recreation (centers) for our ESL and our Cultural Folklorico classes. The Mayor recently supported us with a $50,000 donation, which came from a local entrepreneur whom he convinced that literacy classes could help new immigrant families succeed in life faster.
Now, isn’t this a fine gesture from someone who believes in us?
Our Hispanic first immigrants need to learn about civics and how to respect the law. I understand how difficult this situation is and how we are all suffering the consequences…
At the non-profit corporation that I represent, our mission statement says that we assist the immigrant communities with educational and cultural programs in their process of assimilation and acculturation, in order for them to become productive members of society.
Lately, our students have not been coming as often to class. It’s that vicious circle again — no education, no assimilation, no acculturation.
I proudly spoke at the rally we had in Irving about JUSTICE! Justice for all of the children suffering, their parents, their relatives.
Many, like me, came to look for “The American Dream†and found it, but for some, unfortunately, their dream turned into a nightmare.
It is sad to know how much fear, sadness and frustration there is in so many thousands of people in Irving. We thought we were protected by a local fair plan, but we ended up in a big mess.
I pray for those who are paying the consequences.
Comment(27)
Frank
Illegals need to be deported by any means necessary. They aren’t immigrants. Legal Hispanics and other citizens should have no problem being questioned because they have nothing to fear. They have proper I.D.
These bleeding heart stories aren’t going to work with any sane, law abiding American. You can’t take the American Dream, you have to ask for it. We have laws that require that immigrants come with papers to acquire that dream. Play by the rules or don’t come here illegally and whine about how unfair everything is to you.
Those Americans who stand on the side of anarchy and spit on our laws in favor of illegal foreigners should perhaps leave with them.
Marisa Treviño
On that note, we will always disagree.
Horace
“I proudly spoke at the rally we had in Irving about JUSTICE! Justice for all of the children suffering, their parents, their relatives.”
Justice for Mexican nationals can be found in Mexico,if Mexicans have the courage to demand it. We didn’t put illegal immigrants in the position to run north, the Mexican government did. We take responsibility for our people, Mexico should be made to do so for its own. You’re nothing but an enabler for the injustice Mexico imposes upon its citizens. Mexico will always be nothing because of people like you. Only one country should be made to account for the welfare of a people, the one to which they owe allegiance.
What about the justice for citzens whose laws are being ingnored? “We the people” never included non citizens. You have no legal argument, only personal opinions. A nation can not be run on the basis of bias or opinion.
You’re wrong Marisa, and Frank is right. Ethnic groups cannot pick and choose which laws they’ll obey and which they’ll ignore. You make a mockery of the legal system you’re so quick to use when its to your advantage. That’s duplicitous at its worst, but apparently you’re not above that.
flower
Frank, at least you should shut up. there are human being suffering, there are innocent children suffering.
You make a party over the death. Shame of you!
Respect the others and don’t tell me is about the law. I know America very well, I know how we can broke the law in any country, I know how we make up things.
It is amazing but the real conscecuence will suffer America. Not available labor, lets import food!
yes, great solution! lets make another China to import food in this case.
Enjoy how we respect the law in irak.
Horace
Ok Flower, we may as well ingnore all of our current laws. After all, we’re irredeamable and any law we enact has no legitimacy. I’ll go rob a bank on the premise that our country has done bad things in the past, therefore invalidating the laws against robbing banks. Your logic is totally flawed. The past wrongs of the American government should not be used as excuses for citizens to break current law, otherwise anarchy prevails. The same laws you’d call upon to protect you would be fair game for those who would rationalize that they don’t apply to them. For example, Flower pisses me off. It’s ok to steal or beat Flower to a pulp, because, although that alone isn’t justifaction to kill her, she must have done something in her past to warrant it. I might as well exact punishment for those injustices as well. Flower, you are irrational.
Frank
Horace, I was going to address flowers idiotic remarks but you covered it quite well already.
miguel
Flor, No cuente con respuestas verdaderas de estos dos tontos.
Frank
Trying to hide something there miguel, by using Spanish as if we won’t understand what you are saying?
Frank
We aren’t idiots and we do speak the truth.
miguel
Frank, nothing to hide. Say 3 prayers. 14/88
adriana
“Illegals need to be deported by any means necessary.”
Wow, this sounds very militant. Maybe you are taking a cue from Malcolm X, who often cited that phrase?
Stopping motorists indiscriminately without probable cause is illegal and should not be tolerated, but so many individual freedoms have been eroded in recent times that this should come as no surprise.
Frank
Nothing militant about seeking out, detaining and deporting illegal aliens but I do believe in doing so within our laws.
If I were stopped and asked for my I.D. by law enforcement even without probable cause I wouldn’t feel that my rights were being violated because I can produce the I.D. and would have nothing to hide or fear. Only those who have something to hide object to this.
Horace
“Stopping motorists indiscriminately without probable cause is illegal and should not be tolerated, but so many individual freedoms have been eroded in recent times that this should come as no surprise.”
The courts have upheld the right of law enforcement to stop people for safety checks and inspection of insurance documents. If everyone who passes through a certain inspection checkpoint is stopped, regardless of race or color, it is not indiscriminate. If I were the police, I’d simply set up a checkpoint on a public thoroughfare near a worksite suspected of employing illegal aliens and check everyone for a valid driver’s license and insurance card. I’d be well within the law to do so. Anyone, regardless of race, who did not have such documents would be cited, and the car parked on the side of the road until a licensed driver was able to move it. If the driver’s license appeared to be fraudulent, I’d arrest the driver and have his citizenship status checked with ICE.
David O.
Don’t be baited by the “Frank & Stein” comedy team. Their ‘truths’ are attempts to upset the wagon. Their posts come directly out of nativists’ xenophobe manual.
Attack them, have fun with them, mock them, insult them but don’t take them seriously.
Frank
And people like you David are ethnocentric un-American fools. You and yours are reviving racism in this country. Whites have come a long ways away from that and may still have a ways to go but now it is all about Brown racism. Here we go again!
There is nothing wrong with being a nativist, Mexicans are nativists in their own country too. Xenophobe? I have no fear of foreigners. I just want them to come here legally.
You can’t handle the truth and facts and that is why you insult and why you also encourage others in here to do so. Very childish and immature.
David O.
Horace wrote: “You’re wrong Marisa, and Frank is right. Ethnic groups cannot pick and choose which laws they’ll obey and which they’ll ignore. You make a mockery of the legal system you’re so quick to use when its to your advantage. That’s duplicitous at its worst, but apparently you’re not above that.”
Oh you mean like, ah..George Bush, Cheney, et al, and their illegal invasion of Irak, secret prisons and torture of enemy combatants, and illegal spying on US citizens? Yes I think I see your point.
You are wrong Horace and Marisa is right.
You are a fool who thinks that if it were not for the Europeans Indians would still be living in Teepees and using stone tools.
Diana Joe
Horable and frankiestained are all over the wheres..they have nothing better to do with themselves, and so…they masterbeat themselves with..the RULE OF THEIR Lawlessness. ITS DIVIDE AND CONQUER,and has anyone noted that they avoid those three words? DIVIDE AND CONQUER-yippie!
Go back to BROKE_BACK MOUNTAIN whore-us and franklystained…this is the hemaphordite for your hollowed weenies.
David O.
” miguel wrote:
Frank, nothing to hide. Say 3 prayers. 14/88″
Silently please, without the screaming and saluting.
Frank
David, myself and most Americans don’t approve of what Bush, Cheney and our government are doing. So don’t throw us in the mix with them idiots if you are looking for an excuse to demonize regular Americans.
Diana, Divide and Conquer? Who are we dividing and conquering? We want our immigration laws enforced and our borders secured. How is that dividing and conquering?
By the way you two act like little kids with your personal insults. Can’t you debate without that? I am disappointed in Marisa that she allows you two to do that in here.
Diana Joe
Hey frank it’s DIVIDE and CONQUER no matter what the angle is!
As for being little kids(its all good FRANKIE)! I cannot speak for David but It’s good to toy with you-isn’t that what you and whats his face – Horace/Horible)name calling me {hemaphrodite] have been doing for weeks on Marisas’LATINA blog?! Gimme a break buddie-seems that when the heat turns to your direction you start whimpering mercilessly…quit it already! Divide and Conquer is a well thought of well executed political animal that yous{frank and Horrice} will obviously not like to see or accept as true and factual-because perhaps you are not a MINORITY in a certain colored-human group? Divide and Conquer is and has always been a very attractive venue for the gain of {PRIME}land. It works! Study the dynamics of something as simple as Huracahn Katrina where thousands were displaced due to their impoverished lifestyle,and their economic deficiencies. The people of New Orleans are and were predominantly BLACK- -they were quickly BUSED{courtesy of UNCLE SAM} out of the disaster zones NEVER to return to their beloved homesteads. What is about to occur at the US-Mexico borders{fear based} is the SAME thing only it looks different because there aren’t any natural occurances to make it easy…for officials at the federal level to WRITE off property-I’ll let you figure out the rest genius.
Frank
Diana, the only time I have done a little name calling myself was in defense of you and yours name calling starting it first. This is always the tactics of the pro-illegals. Insult away first and then when one tries to defend oneself from your intitial attacks you cry foul.
Could you make yourself a little more clear about this dividing and conquering bit you are talking about in relation to myself personally? I am sorry but I still haven’t a clue what you are talking about.
I have nothing to do with what our government is doing and I may or may not agree with them dependng on the circumstances. You assume way too much in here about my views and opinions about things that I haven’t even discussed with you. Looks like you are just trying to find a beating post for your frustrations and I got elected.
David O.
Frank wrote: “This (name calling) is always the tactics of the pro-illegals. Insult away first and then when one tries to defend oneself from your intitial attacks you cry foul.”
That is what Rush Limbaugh says about those who disagree with him, that they will always resort to name calling instead of defending their position.
You should read the name calling on any newspaper blog from the Right Wing wackos and know nothings on
anything having to do with immigration.
Horace
Diana Joe said: “Horace/Horible)name calling me {hemaphrodite] have been doing for weeks on Marisas’LATINA blog?!”
Leave Frank out of this. Professor Horrible accepts sole responsibility for his own immature name calling. However, you did claim that hermaphrodies are sacred in your culture, so it turned out to be a compliment. If your were one, you’d have the advantage of doing to yourself what normal people will never have the opportunity to do, although it is suggested to Frank in this blog all the time. What’s the big deal?
David O.
Horace wrote,”If your were one, you’d have the advantage of doing to yourself what normal people will never have the opportunity to do, although it is suggested to Frank in this blog all the time. What’s the big deal?”
Aren’t you the clever one? Of course it was a compliment, any dolt could see that, just like your comment that if it were not for Euros the Indians would still be living in Teepees working with stone tools.
I see it clearly.
Frank
David, I am not responsible nor do I condone right wing wackos (as you call them) or anyone elses name calling. I take responsibility for my own words, actions and views.
David O.
Frank :
David, I am not responsible nor do I condone right wing wackos (as you call them) or anyone elses name calling. I take responsibility for my own words, actions and views.
Well I’m certainly relieved. So lets have some sources that support your claims.
Frank
David, my claims of what?
Comments are closed.