wral.com
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Some say an overwhelming caseload was a factor in why an illegal immigrant charged in what investigators have called a violent case of road rage was not deported after a prior conviction for a McDonald's shooting.
Joel Ortiz was arrested in April in connection with the shooting at the Raleigh restaurant and was under investigation by local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
But when there was not enough evidence to support a felony conviction, according to prosecutors, a plea bargain was reached with Ortiz and the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.
Although a misdemeanor-assault charge is a deportable offense, according to immigration attorney Lynn Calder, immigration officials said that because the charge was reduced, the case became a low priority.
"If they got something more serious going on at the time, I don't think they'll get to them," Calder said.
Hmm... illegal alien in possession of a firearm is accused of a shooting at a McDonalds and this is not serious?
Then he is once again re-arrested, this time where he chased down motorists, rammed their vehicles and shot at them. I guess ICE will finally get to him will he kills somebody. Or, maybe not.
Attorney General Gonzales seems to be too busy of late traveling aound the country pushing for the Bush-McCain-Kennedy-Frist-Martinez "Permanent" Guest-Workers Amnesty bill (S.2611) I guess he doesn't have time to actually enforce the law.
Attorney Gen. Gonzales Speaks In South Bay
North Carolina desperately needs a Federal Immigration Detention Facility instead of having to haul them all the way to Atlanta, Georgia.
Posted by Tyne at July 25, 2006