The ICE Storm - Weld County becomes a battleground over District Attorney’s request for increase

By Andra Coberly, Fort Collins Weekly

December 7, 2005

http://www.fortcollinsweekly.com/

There is a similar fire in the impassioned voices of Joy Breuer and Sylvia Martinez, who both speak with intense ardor about their hometown of Greeley and the illegal neighbors with whom they share it.

But don’t be fooled. These women don’t have much more in common. In fact, while one is scouring the city finding likeminded folks who think the illegal immigrant population is growing out of control, the other represents the 1,000-member group fighting against increased immigration enforcement in the area....

While this combative relationship has made headlines statewide only recently, its roots began taking shape five years ago when the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement had looked at Greeley as a possible spot for an office. But, according to Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, federal officials didn’t feel the office would be welcomed by locals, so they decided to set up shop in Brush, on the eastern plains of Colorado. Currently, the Brush location is one of seven ICE offices in Colorado.

Now, Buck is doing everything in his efforts to make sure there is a welcome mat on Greeley’s proverbial doorstep for the federal agency that deals with illegal immigrants, as well as other customs issues. Buck, in his request for a Greeley ICE office, hopes to present resolutions of support from the Weld County Commissioners and the Greeley City Council, along with statements of support from local and statewide representatives....

Those opposed to his efforts have been more than vocal—showing up by the hundreds to open sessions and City Council meetings and vocalizing their concerns with an impassioned fervor, saying Buck has unjustly targeted illegal immigrants and that an office would increase instances of racial profiling. Those in support of the office have been scouring local neighborhoods and businesses, collecting signatures and gaining advocates. And local and statewide politicians, like Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, have announced their support for the office, adding even more fuel to this growing fire.

Greeley’s bout with illegal immigrants has become quite the battle, especially in a county where 35 percent of the population is Latino....

Though police statistics show that illegal immigrants make up only about 1 to 2 percent of gangs, Weld County had six homicides in as many months from gang activity, and county officials say some of those involved were illegal immigrants. It’s incidents like these that some say are causing long-time residents and businesses to leave Greeley....

Buck says that increased crime is weighing on the county jail, where overcrowding is commonplace and $1.5 million has been spent on transporting inmates to other counties to be housed.

Currently, when someone in the county is arrested they are questioned about their country of origin. If they are foreign born, then their information is sent to the National Crime Information Center, which passes it along to other ICE offices. The agency then places a “hold” on that inmate if they are found to be in the country illegally and if they were in jail because they committed a violent crime, sexual offense or crime against a child. Those on hold will sit out their sentence and then be deported, according to a Weld County District Attorney spokesperson.

Buck says having an office in Weld County would expedite the process and possibly allow officials to place holds on inmates with lesser sentences—in theory, eliminating repeatedly offending illegal immigrants from the system. Thea Mustari, spokeswoman for the DA’s office, uses the example of an illegal immigrant who has been arrested on multiple occasions while driving under the influence.

“Instead of waiting until he kills someone while driving drunk, we can deport him,” she says.

Buck calls the ICE office “a life-saving and cost-saving benefit.”...

Read the complete article.