Mexican charged with criminal trespass

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showfast.html?article=53589

Mexican charged with criminal trespass
By STEPHEN SEITZ
Union Leader Correspondent
 
 

NEW IPSWICH — Federal authorities are waiting to see how a state case against an illegal alien goes before they decide what to do.

Jorge Mora Ramirez, 21, of Waltham, Mass., is free on bail pending charges of criminal trespass after being picked up in New Ipswich last Friday.

"The police did give us the information," said Barbara Gonzalez, a public affairs officer with the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency. "We\'ll await the resolution of state charges."

Police said that last Friday, an officer checked on a Ford Explorer parked on Turnpike Road with its lights blinking. Inside was Ramirez, 21, who produced a Mexican driver\'s license and some false identification; he was later charged with criminal trespass.

Police said Ramirez admitted to being in the country illegally and that he was working for a construction company in Jaffrey.

It\'s not clear whether courts will allow police to prosecute people for crossing international borders by using a law more commonly applied to domestic disputes. Because Ramirez was not indoors, the criminal trespass is a violation, a level of severity less than a misdemeanor.

"It\'s a novel theory," said state Assistant Attorney Robert Carey. "We aren\'t aware of any sort of contrary authority to it, if you look at the statute."

Police Chief Garrett Chamberlain said police spoke to several Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, none of whom wanted to take custody of Ramirez. The officials said the information would be forwarded to the agency\'s Boston office.

Last year, New Ipswich police detained nine illegal immigrants but let them go when ICE officials said they were not interested in taking custody. They advised Chamberlain to get identities and other information and release them.

At that time, an ICE spokesman said the agency is stretched and handles cases on a priority basis.

In October, federal immigration officials arrested 11 Mexicans in New Ipswich. They were identified as being in the country without authorization.

Federal authorities did not want to take custody of Ramirez, so he was charged and scheduled for arraignment last Monday. He was released on $1,500 bail and his arraignment is scheduled for May 3.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Nice!

Because Ramirez was not indoors, the criminal trespass is a violation, a level of severity less than a misdemeanor.

If the violation is less severe than a misdemeanor, I\'m sure the punishment does not include deportation.  Therefore, what\'s the point?  Is this just to hassle people?

Yes, criminals should be hassled. It also sends a message that we should be dealing with illegals.

Calling him a criminal is a bit of an exaggeration.  In any case this sounds like a great use of taxpayer dollars ~ bringing ticky tack charges against people at the bottom of the economic ladder, instead of solving the problem.  I\'m glad this is happening in your state instead of mine.

BTW, if you want to solve the problem, ask your state legislators to pass a law that will make things difficult for the employer who\'s paying this illegal alien his wages.  Oh no... can\'t do that because it\'s bad for business. :rolleyes:

Wrongo, there Core. I agree about making it tough businesses that knowingly employ illeagals.

By the way, it\'s our economic ladder, he doesn\'t belong there.