ICE sweep nets five
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Culpeper officials address illegal immigrant raid...
Culpeper police and ICE targeted 19 people during an early morning illegal immigration sweep Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Staff Photo, Nate Delesline III
An Immigration and Customs Agent prepares for an early morning sweep in Culpeper.
Five people were arrested Tuesday morning in a countywide sweep for illegal immigrants, officials announced in an afternoon press conference.
About 35 town officers, sheriff’s deputies, state agents, members of the regional Blue Ridge Narcotics Task Force and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials met at the Culpeper Police Department around 3:30 a.m., where they organized into four teams which were dispatched in search of 19 individuals. Representatives of all the agencies called the effort a success.
According to a statement from the town, all five people arrested face federal charges. They were held briefly in the Culpeper County Jail before federal agents assumed custody of them late Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff Jim Branch said.
“Given the nature of who we were going after, it was pretty good,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Gary Close, whose office also assisted in the raids.
Tuesday’s sweeps were targeted toward actual or suspected gang members, people who had returned to the U.S. after being deported, and those Culpeper Police Chief Scott Barlow described as “frequent flyers” — people who have minor, but recurring problems with the law.
After a briefing at the police department, the teams mustered on Cameron Street around 5 a.m. before proceeding to their target locations. Some of the team members donned military-style combat uniforms with masks, while others in plain clothes got into unmarked SUVs and sedans. Local officers in marked patrol vehicles accompanied the teams.
Officials reported that one man was captured after a short foot chase, while another suspect was found hiding under a bed.
Barlow said one person picked up today was wanted in New York on a weapons charge.
None of the people arrested Tuesday morning were identified by name.
Background and next steps
The raids were part of a collaborative effort begun a year ago with the creation of a Culpeper County Gang Task Force.
Officials said Tuesday’s raids weren’t the first and won’t be the last, adding that it was impossible to know how long the fallout from this latest effort would resonate through the community. Everyone also agreed that they sensed the number and presence of illegal immigrants in Culpeper has decreased recently.
The local officials acknowledged that while ICE is unable to address every immigration issue that may arise in Culpeper, the efforts and resources of the federal agents are pointed in the right direction. Based in Harrisonburg, two ICE agents are assigned to cover 22 counties. Gesturing to a stack of papers on the table, Close said 1,842 names have been faxed to federal officials since June 2006.
“Our policy at the P.D. — and I’m pretty sure the sheriff’s office is very similar — is when it comes to illegals,” said Barlow, “we are also targeting the known criminals and the gang members because that’s what ICE is willing to come get.” Branch agreed.
While gang activity may exist in Culpeper County, the officials also agreed that it hasn’t reached a crisis point, thanks to the work of the gang task force.
“If you look at the threat to the community, certainly I think ICE is on the right track with their limited manpower and resources,” Barlow said. “They are going after the worst of the worst and looking at those individuals that would harm our community”
And while some may not see illegal immigrants and their criminal activity as a serious issue, the officials insisted that most people would probably disagree with that sentiment.
“I think the vast majority of people in the community want us to step up to the plate and target known criminals,” said Barlow. “If we came across one target we thought was worthwhile, we’d get on the phone, call ICE, and they’d come down and take care of it for us.”
Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or .
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Reader Reactions
Let me first clarify this. I mean we are hardly the minority. You have it all wrong copper. The Chief said “vast majority of the people in the community want us to step up to the plate and target known criminals”. That is what we do. We target criminals. I do it every day. Anyone we apprehend and take into custody gets an Illegal Alien Inquiry, is checked through VCIN/NCIC and also ICE notified when we have anyone in custody we believe is in this country illegally. Criminal is the key word. We must have them on criminal charges. We follow Virginia Code 19.2-81.6 and stay within the guidelines. We follow the procedures that ICE gave us. We do not have the authority or power to detain or arrest day laborers. We don’t have reasonable suspicion under law do so. Criminal illegal aliens are what ICE wants. They want violent and serious offenders. Do you think I just turn my head and do nothing? Not so. Laws are enforced. We are governed by laws such as the Constitution. Yes, that same Constitution applies to everyone. The Supreme Court has ruled “equal protection under the law” to everyone to include illegal aliens. I didn’t make the law but I will surely follow it when I enforce it.
This is the entire point that you refuse to understand. Yes Jenkins does not care to follow the rule of law. Yes there are angry people fed up with illegal immigration and don’t understand the law. I do. The vast majority of criminal offenders are legal citizens. We do arrest illegal aliens but the majority of the crimes we arrest them on are crimes that ICE simply won’t detain for deportation. They are concerned with both criminal illegal aliens and terrorists. I sat through the instructional class. I took good notes. I made sure that I knew what they said. I also have close friends at ICE in DC. We talk all the time. They too say that the general public doesn’t understand the laws and what local police can and can’t do. They don’t even understand all that goes on with ICE.
So I suggest you try to understand what people are saying. You need to hear all of it and stop being selective and putting words into other people’s mouths. The day we as law enforcement officers stop obeying the laws ourselves to enforce it will only bring a society that will never respect us or obey the laws themselves.
Oh but it is the responsibility of ICE to enforce federal immigration laws. You should really try to educate yourself on federal immigration laws. Yes it is their responsibility. Our job is to notify them when we have reasonable suspicion under the law and we must stick to the federal guidelines we are given by ICE. They have authority that we don’t have. You obviously don’t know what you are talking about.
ICE is welcome here anytime, it certainly will clean up this Town. I’m sure the illegal alien defenders will protest ICE doing their job. I have to laugh though, because so many illegal defenders constantly say “its not local law enforcement’s job to enforce immigration, its ICE’s job”, then when ICE comes to Town and rounds up illegal criminals they cry foul. Typical, they want it their way all the time. If you want to come to America and benefit from our way of life then do it legally and you don’t have to fear ICE.
why aren’t the authorities targeting the people who employ the illegal’s everyday? this is the root of the problem. i would tell you why….but i think you already know the answer. because they aren’t familiar with the ways of america, they are taken advantage of. here’s an idea, protect and serve; rather than harass people trying to earn a living.
I would like eveyone to know that this whole 5 thing is a lie. They took in about 50 people. One young lady opened the door, and did not want to let them in, they pushed her and then the ICE and Police people cut the lock off of the bedroom door where the person they were looking for was hiding. They took him and the young lady in accusing her of being in a gang. She has only been in this country for 5 months and is a hardworking individual. She has no tatoos or anything. They were going to lock her up for 6 months? For what? Illegal Presence? She got out, has an ankle bracelet that locates her at all times, what’s funny is how she went to a friends house and magically ICE was there the next morning at 5:30 a.m. beating on the door. This time the occupants were legal and since they didn’t have a search warrant they were not allowed in. They are not worried about gangsters, the gangsters are in manassas, they will take anyone and say that they are gangsters.The other woman that was taken with this girl had children. No one notified the school, what was going to happen when her daughter got off the bus?Nobody cares, it’s as if they are not even considered humans. Maybe the star exponent should report eveything instead of just what the “Commonwealth” wants us to hear. All they really arrested was a bunch of regular people with nothing more than a traffic ticket or 2. One weapons charge out of 50, come on people get real. Another thing, why only Hispanics, I know for a fact that 2 of the owners of the Chinese restaraunts in town traffic their waiters in this country. They are all illegal too, but who says anything no one. They all live in a townhouse in Picadilly Circus together. It’s the truth, but no, we can only target hispanics. At least one person is happy, Steve Jenkins. Maybe next time he goes to Ruby Tuesday, Chilis, or IHOP, he should know that (God Forbid) an illegal immigrant cooked his food, oh my.
Guess We will All see What these Crimes were in the Sunday Paper under the Police Arrest Section. Should we Pick out All the Hispanic names and start the ‘Jenkins= Stone Them All Crusade’??..Also, Where did they get this 19 member ‘Gang List’ living in Culpeper?..Does Jenkins appear to be some sort of an Informant?...Lets call it what it is, a Scare Tactic to continue with Clearing out Our Town/County of All Hispanics inwhich Increases the already prevalant ‘Hate Crimes’ occuring in Our Town. I have Not seen/heard anything related to The effects this is having on Our Hispanic Community which includes The Throat Slashing of an Elderly Hispanic Man a few months back. One of the infamous walking down the street after dark. Wake up Culpeper, I know I have! So much Negative News makes me Sick/Tired of hearing about it. Please do Not take me wrong, I Have the Highest Respect for Our Town Police/ Culpeper Sheriff Dept. and They Have been and Will continue to be Respected by All Our Citizens by the Great Job They All do. I see None of them Running around with this Racist Attitude. Maybe an investigation into Whom Really is Running this Show of ‘Run the Hispanics out of Town’. ???Call them Legal or Illegal it is All the Same= Hispanic is The Name….Just ask anyone on the street! Also, The Gang Word Scares Everyone.. But, in Calif. or Fla. if ICE stricks on a Local Factory Noone realy Hears about it if a few 5/6 persons get deported….Why is this?- Maybe 5 out of 19 is good but No Mention was really made as to What Confirmed Gang they were members of????... Whats up with this? I love to research the internet and inform myself but I seem to be getting the Opinion that All this ‘Great Front Page News’ is just another way of swaying our Public into some really Racist Ideas. Think About It!
ARE WE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL…?
No help from Obama or McCain against the occupational army of illegal immigrants. The economy is staggering, but they still insist in importing impoverished illegal cheap labor. Now it is up to ‘THE PEOPLE’ to let their voices be heard and their angry frustration.
Keep Pressure on Senate to Pass E-Verify Reauthorization; No House Vote Held on Foreign-Worker Bills
Please contact your Senator through the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask him/her to pressure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to allow a vote this week on H.R. 6633, the House-passed E-Verify reauthorization bill. The E-Verify program will die in November if Congress does not reauthorize it before Members leave for the election recess on Friday.
IT’S YOUR FAMILIES FUTURE. DEPORTATION OR OVERPOPULATION. IF WE DON’T STOP IT NOW, THEY WILL KEEP COMING..
JOIN 756.000 other American patriots at www.numbersusa.com , to stop the travesty of our immigration laws. Learn about Immigration governmental corruption at www.judicialwatch.org
PLEASE PASS ON THIS URGENT MESSAGE
rjma-Go to court and listen when the day comes. If you can’t wait that long, look through the public records and see what the charges are.
taxpayer#5 - “Only” 5 were arrested. Read between the lines. Only 5 were (found) and arrested. For balance, if they were looking for 5 drug dealers and were only able to get 1; would it be money well spent? I think so.
Law enforcement is not an easy profession. Even when they do something well, it seems bloggers can’t accept that and must say something snotty or cast doubt on what they’ve done.
Lawman has a good perspective. MadisonB, I challenge you to find who it is that is employing the illegal’s and also not filing the proper tax documentation! there is a simple solution, have the illegal’s and their employers go throught the employment office or another third party, for example, Labor Ready. or, stop hiring them and this problem won’t exist.
Glad to see local Law Enforcement admit illegals are a threat to public safety and that their criminal activity is a serious issue to the majority of Citizens in Culpeper. The illegal defenders will not want to hear that from the Chief or Sheriff, sometimes the truth hurts.
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