Immigration Status Of Schoolyard Slayings Suspect Irrelevant

Says Newark Police Director
 
At a news conference on Tuesday, Newark Police Director Gary McCarthy said the immigration status of a chief suspect in the murders of three college students behind an elementary school August 4 is “irrelevant.”

“What’s relevant to me is that they’re murderers, and what’s relevant is that a heinous crime has occurred,” said McCarthy.

Jose Carranza, 28, one of three suspects so far charged in the execution-style killings, is an illegal alien from Peru. However, despite his many encounters with the legal system, his immigration status wasn’t determined. Had federal immigration officials known Carranza was arrested in connection with child rape allegations first in January and then again in May, they could have immediately moved to detain the accused at his bail hearings. But federal officials were never notified. Carranza posted $150,000 bail and was freed in late May.McCarthy contended there were no guarantees the feds would have acted. “They might have and they might not have,” he said. Before he could be asked another question by reporters, Newark Mayor Cory Booker interjected. “It is no way the obligation of the city police department to bo going around doing the work of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” Booker added that talk focusing on Carranza’s imigration status could have a chilling effect on immigrants in his city. He said immigrants, both legal and illegal, are routinely picked on by criminals.

http://www.nj1015.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=7556&z=1

http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=1515

2007-08-17