Immigration at Forefront in Travis County Sheriff Race
In Travis County, which many consider the liberal hub of Texas, a controversial immigration-enforcement policy is at the forefront of the sheriff’s race.
Sheriff Greg Hamilton, first elected in 2004, is coming under increasing fire from his Democratic primary challenger, John Sisson, a retired Austin Police Department lieutenant, for his use of Secure Communities. The program, administered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and in place statewide, compares the fingerprints of arrested individuals to a federal database to determine whether those individuals are eligible for deportation. If a person is found to be in violation, ICE requests that a detainer ...
Comments (10)
Lubulwa Henry Kapou via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ok
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Austin & San Antonio: the two most civilized cities in Texas!
Rudy Gonzales
Texas needs to export the clear thinking of Austin and Travis County. John Sisson is one hundred percent right is his questioning Secured Communities applications and tactics to scare immigrants. Resident freedoms and protection are needed to keep communities secure and ferret out those who intimidate other immigrants. Failure to complete federal requirements imposed by Secure Communities points to selective implementation just like Rick Perry, David Dewhurst and the Texas Legislature do when it comes to federal policies. Texas is still part of the United States, but these yahoos do not want to follow the rules everyone else has to follow. Side-stepping regulations and failing to fulfill jobs duties is reason to terminate and employee, and the same should happen here. If Greg Hamilton cannot or will not do his job, under the guise of federal laws, he should step down or be terminated. Vote the man out! Re-take your government! do not let the extreme fringe run your life. The greatest political power is at the local level. Monies, power, influence and infrastructure policies are implemented at the local level, and the TEA-Republicans learned this well. Get involved, get vocal, get registered, vote and get out the vote!
Daniel Kowalski
The issue is whether the detainer regulation, 8 C.F.R. 287.7, is a request, a command, neither or both:
"The detainer is a request that such agency advise the Department, prior to release of the alien, in order for the Department to arrange to assume custody, in situations when gaining immediate physical custody is either impracticable or impossible. ... Upon a determination by the Department to issue a detainer for an alien not otherwise detained by a criminal justice agency, such agency shall maintain custody of the alien for a period not to exceed 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in order to permit assumption of custody by the Department." Litigation is pending in Connecticut over the legitimacy of the regulation. Links at: http://www.lexisnexis.com/community/immigration-law/blogs/outside/archive/2012/05/07/immigration-detainers-at-forefront-in-travis-county-austin-tx-sheriff-race.aspx
Jackie McCardell Jr
This story is very misleading and really goes to support the policy of Sheriff Greg Hamilton. I find it interesting how Mr. Aguilar chose to omit "Undocumented" or "Illegal" when he mention immigrants. Based on Mr. Aguilar's stats, all 2,000 or so violators should've been deported. If a citizen was arrested under the same violations as illegal immigrants, then citizens would expect for them to do their time in jail or prison. In essence it is not the jails that are breaking up families, it is the violators themselves.
Also, there are over 27 agencies that make arrests and bring the violators to the jail. The Sheriff is the keeper of the jails, housing those whom these law enforcement agents believe has committed a violation worth incarceration. Just as with any citizen, if they do not want to go to jail, don't commit a crime. If I'm not mistaken, illegal immigration is illegal. You can find a number of citizens who are arrested for not having identification, not just immigrants.
It would seem obvious that the Sheriff's position is a position of Law Enforcement; not legislative or executive. This is the issue we had back in the Civil Rights/ Jim Crow Era where activists law enforcement officials decided to ignore Federal Law. The national guard had to come in and enforce the federal laws that racists sheriffs decided to repudiate and ignore. Mr. Sisson should run for state office or something in legislative because he is far off-base with law enforcement.
I agree with Mr. Gonzales that Greg Hamilton should step down or be terminated if he cannot or will not do his job. The problem with your comment is that he IS doing his JOB, and you're still calling for him to step down. Your problem is not with The Sheriff, it's with the federal government.
Sheriff Greg Hamilton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
“I have never asked a question, are they here legally or illegally,” he said. “I just want to help out.”
gypsy314 ne
Let me see if I get this democrat wants illegal aliens to stay here on our dime?
Sheriff Hamilton wants to send illegal aliens home and save our dime.
Well folks one would have to be a idiot to vote for john Sisson. He must be a liberal democrat Obama supporter. Run his sorry rear back to Austin wear he will fit right in with the sorry liar rhinos and democrats in office.
Anyone but Obama and liar democrats!
Brittanicus
We have one way in returning the power to the American people, is to retire the majority of Democrats, Liberals and Republican politicians, and give that influence to the Constitutional TEA PARTY leadership. Under Obama we have seen the U.S. deficit rising to an almost fanatical 16 trillion dollars. In Sen. Harry Reid’s party no move towards a balanced budget. Then both parties have deliberately ignored the astronomical $113 billion dollars a year, pander to the 20 plus million illegal migrants and immigrants already settled here. Our only real chance to stop the illegal invaders is adopting more Tea Party Senators and Representatives. Millions of demoralized Americans of different racial make-ups, religions and political parties have joined the Tea Party that represents all citizens, permanent residents whether of Hispanic, Latino, European, and Asian, Pacific Rim or any part of the world’s population who came here legally.
Beginning with Arizona v. the justice Department who revolted against the high court’s unfunded mandates, that STATES must give health care, an education and welfare programs to anybody who can slither past our fences or just lie to an agent, when they alighting from a jet plane from another country. Other than Sanctuary states, the rest are waiting for the outcome in June by SCOTUS. Patiently waiting is Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and the majority of other states to at least have some confirmation, whether they can advance a policing policy to check a person’s eligibility to be in the United States?
Senator Marco Rubio has his own plan for the Dream Act, other than the very incendiary law that Democrats have in mind. For any realistic chance of the Dream Act gaining passage in Congress, certain provisions must be in effect. The central government has to enact a nationwide mandatory E-Verify program, that Chain Migration must be rescinded from immigration law, that only children below the age of ten would be considered and that all recipients to obtain a path to citizenship, must depart the country and apply for a entry at an Embassy, as every other patient immigrant must do. A larger majority of the Tea Party members would also insist that the Birthright Citizenship law be amended, so no pregnant illegal alien mother or parents could take advantage any more with their child/children getting instant citizenship. That no baby/infant should become a taxpayer’s burden, unless one parent is a U.S. citizen. Over the years this law has become mutated, and should not be a foothold, for every illegal migrant or immigrant who smuggles themselves into America to gain admittance to welfare and public assistance. Our own pregnant females suffer a large disadvantage by the hospital clogged by illegal alien Mothers, whereas citizens and residents must pay maternity fees, while others get a free uncompensated ride. These programs should only be available to citizens, naturalized citizens and green card holders.
ALL WE ARE DOING BY GIVING ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGNERS WHICH IS ACHIEVING MORE POVERTY FOR OUR PEOPLE; OUR SICK, MENTALLY ILL, OUR HOMELESS, OUR POOR AND EVEN OUR TROOPS COMING HOME SHOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY?
That the farming and agricultural commerce have an obligation to pay the benefits for their labor and not the state’s taxpayers. There will no importation of migrant poverty anymore, by cutting off access to welfare, food stamps, and section 8 housing programs. Taxpayer doesn’t need or should we accept any new low skilled workers, instead we must necessitate in supplying our own citizens with more occupational programs. Further we must safeguard our voting system which has been compromised by the far left, its Liberal associates, Democrats and groups like ACORN that became a vital factor of a growing number of state requiring official ID to vote. Illegal aliens are voting and will again in local, state and federal elections and this dishonesty must be ended. Another set of regulations to amend, would be a careful examination of the current visa system allowing around a million legal immigrants annually into the U.S. No further violation can be tolerated from businesses and we should only permit the highest intelligence in engineering, the sciences, mathematicians and computer technology professionals to immigrate.
Illegal immigration must become a thing of the past by securing our border fences. Business that intentionally ignores E-Verify should face harsh sanctions, including prison. Elected officials, who allow such provisions as Sanctuary City ordinances, should be punished and government legislators should sever funds to these perpetrators. All federal and state legislators, governors, majors, police chiefs should be put on notice, that voters will unseat them, specially the Tea Party members. Any illegal alien invaders of this sovereign country, should be prosecuted as a Felony, not a civil infraction, with ID theft or Voter Fraud should be mandatory prison sentence, with no exceptions.
America is bleeding badly from years of neglect by both political parties and pampering of foreign nationals cannot be accepted any more as the norm. Internal enforcement is more urgent than ever before, because of supporting illegal aliens is skyrocketing and taxpayers are on the hook. Illegal aliens have also found a way, to obtain $4.6 billion dollars annually by defrauding the IRS and the taxpayers, using non-existent children tax credits. Elections are no longer safe as Democrats and their less honest followers are participating in voter fraud. We either need a national ID card or that all voters must possess a government picture ID for proof of who they are?
If you cherish your freedoms from the corruption in Washington that benefits all of us, we need a balanced tax system with no subsidies, a right to drill on the Peoples National land and sea for plentiful reservoirs of oil, natural gas to alleviate our out-of-control deficit. No more government bail outs for the friends of the White house. Throw out all the profiteering lawmakers and by cleaning house, put recognizable TEA PARTY leaders in their place. Voters need to demand from Congress, specifically from GOP House speaker, John Boehner of Ohio and Dave Camp of Michigan, as the Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee to stop blocking the 50-state E-Verify bill. Call the central switchboard at 202-224-3121 Washington, DC. For further information on this crisis subject, check with NumbersUSA website, where even Congress consults on immigration matters.
Kenneth Dreger
OPINION-
Sheriff Hamilton is 10000% in the right! sorry all you open borders folks. He actually is supporting the law. He makes no choice of who may or may not be here illegally, that is the way to do it. Run everyone thru the system because you cannot discriminate. He gets my vote and support. Remember the word "SHALL" that determines IF he can or cannot! He Must. If you want a open border where a country does not check who is here illegally move out of the US, and good luck trying to find one!
Meme Me
Go check out the Walgreens on 35 and 290. The illegal alien criminals have overun this store to the point that they have to set up baracades with shopping carts inside the store to prevent them from grabbing armsfull of make-up and running out of the store. The air freshner is locked up in glass cases with locks because they steal them to sniff and get high. They are taking full advantage of our civilized society here in the US. In Mexico they are set-up to stop the criminals, we are not. We are wide open here in the US and the illegal alien criminals are loving it!
Why the hell would anyone want to keep illegal alien criminals here in our country???? crazy people....