As if the tragic story of Scott Gardner, the Gaston County teacher killed by an illegal immigrant drunk-driver, could get any worse it turns out that authorities in both North Carolina and Michigan flubbed several opportunities to get Ramiro Gallegos off the roads, if not out of the country entirely.
There’s plenty of blame to go around — state, local, federal, judges, lawmakers, bureaucracy — so let’s try to focus on solutions. For one, immigration officials need to treat DUI offenses as serious charges, basically attempted murder, and act accordingly to deport these individuals. Second, if there is a manpower crunch in carrying out deportations, why not do what the U.S. Marshalls Service does and in effect deputize members of local law enforcement as federal immigration officers? Pretty much every force in the Charlotte area is part of the Hornet’s Nest Task Force for purposes of arresting and detaining fugitives.
Of course, the locals may not want such powers, but we’re trying to stay positive here.
