More On 'Victimless Crimes'

We've had a continuing controversy here about whether illegal aliens have anything whatsoever to do with local crime rates. Evidence from the streets suggests strongly they do.

HelpSaveHerndon has been raising money for the family of a local man whose death, it turns out, seems directly attributable to an illegal:

Evidence has linked 28 year-old Jose Santos Sibrian Espinoza to the car and as the driver, police say.

However, now Espinoza can't be located, because he was deported to El Salvador earlier this month, Herndon Police Chief Toussaint Summers says.

Espinoza - who was living in Sterling, Va. - was deported before police believed he had any connection to the case.

Joseph Passarelli was hit and dragged 200 feet in the crosswalk of Herndon Parkway and Ferndale Avenue while walking his dog around 5:45 a.m.

Another driver found him and Passarelli was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he later died.

Maybe we are not so crazy, here in Sterling, for caring about this issue.

Here's a report from Colorado:

As victim of identity theft, I wish several things would happen:

As I learned of the immigration raids taking place throughout the country Tuesday, I wondered if one of those arrested was me.

Since 2001, someone has been using my name and Social Security number to gain employment as a seasonal worker.

In June 2004, I received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service, stating I owed more than $1,200 in taxes for "unreported income." The businesses that reported that I had been working for them included a pecan sorting facility in Deming, N.M., and several ConAgra facilities in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico.

I was shocked and a little bit scared. How did someone get my name and Social Security number, and how was I going to fight the IRS so I didn't have to pay the taxes?

Turned out, it was more difficult than I expected.

An elected offical told me recently the majority of local crimes that seem to involve illegals do, in fact, involve illegals.

So where are our elected officials?

UPDATE: Aubrey Stokes of HelpSaveHerndon just sent the following letter to Delegate Tom Rust, who as far as I know is not yet sponsoring any legislation regarding illegal immigration for the upcoming session of the VA legislature:

Del. Rust,

The hit and run accident involving Joseph Passarelli was a tragedy that could have been prevented.

The suspect, Jose Santos Sibrian Espinoza, had 21 brushes with the law in three jurisdictions in the past 6 years. He was convicted of driving without a license 4 times since 2002 (Charged 7 times with the offense). For each of the subsequent offenses the fine decreased. He was also convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2004. He received a fine and a suspended jail sentence. (I have the supporting data for the above if you would like a copy.)

What message are our courts sending?

Jose Santos Sibrian Espinoza was deported before he could be brought to justice. He should have been deported long before the fatal hit and run.

I believe cases like this bring to light the importance of having our police forces trained in accordance with Section 287(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

I also believe that legislation should be introduced to increase the fines and impose mandatory jail time for those convicted of driving on a suspended license or with no valid operator's license.

Would you be willing to sponsor legislation to that effect?

Aubrey Stokes
Herndon