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Cape Girardeau police arrest 5 undocumented immigrantsFriday, September 5, 2008
Five undocumented immigrants were arrested by a Cape Girardeau police officer who recognized one of them when he saw him driving and knew the man did not have a license, department spokesman Barry Hovis said Thursday. Gilberto F. Hernandez, 40, Javier Claudio-Gutierrez, 21, and Masendonio Sotelo-Pina, 29, all of 624 Boxwood Drive, Apt. 4, Isidro Claudio-Gutierrez, 34, of 604 Boxwood Drive, Apt. 4, and Abel Claudio-Gutierrez, 28, of St. Louis were riding in a car driven by Hernandez when they were pulled over by officer Paul Zajicek, Hovis said. Zajicek had dealt with Hernandez at his home on two previous occasions and knew he did not possess a valid driver's license. He pulled Hernandez over at the intersection of Spruce Street and Boxwood Drive. "He started checking the paperwork on those individuals and learned that none of them had paperwork to be in the United States," Hovis said. The men told Zajicek that they were working in Cape Girardeau for a roofing company. The men were arrested and taken to the Cape Girardeau County Jail based on a hold request from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service. The immigration agency has been more willing in recent months to ask local law enforcement to hold undocumented immigrants, Hovis said. In the past, if the immigration agency did not ask for a hold undocumented immigrants would not be arrested. "It is a matter of trying to get them to come pick them up," Hovis said. "They have been more willing to place detainers on the people we call on." The arrests aren't the first in recent weeks. The Cape Girardeau police picked up 11 undocumented immigrants about a month ago, Hovis said. rkeller@semissourian.com 335-6611, extension 126 Comments  The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, use the exclamation point icon beside the comment to send a report to the webmaster.
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117
GrayWolf,
First of all, INS doesn't exist anymore. ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is a subdivision of the Department of Homeland Security and performs the duties of the old INS. Local officers hands are tied if ICE will not take them. Additionally, there is no way for those officers to take the illegals into custody, transport them to the city limits and tell them not to come back. I am sure that other communities, like Jackson and Scott City, would not appreciate Cape sending their problems to them. If Jackson or Scott City did that to Cape, I would not be happy. It is much more complicated than simply taking them into custody, as you are probably now aware.
The MS-13 gang, aka Mara Salvatrucha 13, is one of the most violently dangerous gangs in the United States - and one of the most organized. Google it some interested reading.
Bickiestew, the main reason and problem Hispanics have with coming to the United State legally is that it takes so long. You have to have money to obtain the proper documents and then to become a citizen you have to speak English yet English isn't even our official language. They come here because the living conditions in their countries are so horrible and they know they will have a better opportunity here. When they get here, they're constantly working. They don't get time to learn our language. I'm sure they can pick up stuff being around people that speak English but they don't get time to actually learn the language so how can they be expected to become a citizen if a requirement is to be able to read, write, and speak it? The system is unfair and its unfortunate that the United States can't figure out a way to help them. You say they fly our flag upside down. They are treated with rudeness and contempt from Americans so why would they like our country? They are here to earn money so that their families might have a chance at a MUCH better life. They're not required to like us or our government. I feel that them flying our flag IS a little rude but there are many Americans who are just as rude. I realize that some of the Hispanics do cause problems. There are gangs and much more but that is also prevalent in ANY culture in the United States.
And you can't blame my opinion on the fact that I don't see that many Hispanics where I live because I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and it is a lot the way Southern California is. There are Hispanics EVERYWHERE. I don't mind the diversity but many back home do and its very frustrating.
I'm not saying that them being here illegally doesn't cause problems. I'm just saying that maybe our government can try to take a step in helping them instead of keeping them out or trying to get them out of our country.
Soccerguy...
You make a good point with your comments and sound like a very open minded person. However, I think the difference in our opinions comes our perspectives. I'm basically speaking of illegals who have come into this country without going through the legal channels. It has been my experience that these people have no desire to speak English because they are not here to actually become an American citizen....they are here to work illegally and send the money they earn back to their family in Mexico. These are the people who get indignate because YOU don't speak Their language thus making it harder for THEM. These are the same people who fly the flag of Mexico in their yards while hanging the American flag upside down....yes, I have seen this in my own neighborhood. Another difference we have is the fact that I am in Southern California and you are I am assuming in Missouri...the problems Missouri is experiencing with illegals seem minor compared to what we deal with on a daily basis. Several years ago when I was in Cape on vacation I recall hearing people talking about the "Mexicans" that were coming into town and they gave the impression that they thought it was so "cute" and seemed to have no problem with it at all. I recall thinking way back then that they were only seeing the tip of the iceberg. From what I read now the "cuteness" seems to have worn off.
I have no problem with people who come into the USA through the proper channels getting all the help they need with language or whatever else....however I don't think illegals should be catered to in the same manner.
I've been to Miami several times...glad you like it...you can have it! Hard to tell if you're in the states or in Cuba. Good seafood tho'.
Soccerguy...
You make a good point with your comments and sound like a very open minded person. However, I think the difference in our opinions comes our perspectives. I'm basically speaking of illegals who have come into this country without going through the legal channels. It has been my experience that these people have no desire to speak English because they are not here to actually become an American citizen....they are here to work illegally and send the money they earn back to their family in Mexico. These are the people who get indignate because YOU don't speak Their language thus making it harder for THEM. These are the same people who fly the flag of Mexico in their yards while hanging the American flag upside down....yes, I have seen this in my own neighborhood. Another difference we have is the fact that I am in Southern California and you are I am assuming in Missouri...the problems Missouri is experiencing with illegals seem minor compared to what we deal with on a daily basis. Several years ago when I was in Cape on vacation I recall hearing people talking about the "Mexicans" that were coming into town and they gave the impression that they thought it was so "cute" and seemed to have no problem with it at all. I recall thinking way back then that they were only seeing the tip of the iceberg. From what I read now the "cuteness" seems to have worn off.
I have no problem with people who come into the USA through the proper channels getting all the help they need with language or whatever else....however I don't think illegals should be catered to in the same manner.
I've been to Miami several times...glad you like it...you can have it! Hard to tell if you're in the states or in Cuba. Good seafood tho'.
If Cape becomes Miami, Florida I will be a very happy man. Culture, more people, beaches. MORE THINGS TO DO! YaY. Our country is composed of immigrants and for this reason we have the most dynamic country in the world. America is not blind and does not judge others by their skin, language, and backgrounds. For this reason I think it is great we help those who are not fully capable of speaking english. I am fluent in spanish I know it is very difficult to learn another language. I have traveled the world and know that it is so hard to get things done with out using your normal language. I can only imagine how hard it must be for people who move to the united states not knowing english and trying to raise a family. Remember you do not become fluent over night. Oh and if your friend who has lived in the states for 35 years doesn't know english then she is not being truthful. After 35 years your going to learn something like it or not.
soccerguy....
We have had immigrants from many countries in the US for many, many years..however I don't recall seeing Wal-Mart, Penney's and Sears to name a few putting up signs in German, French,etc, do you? Do you recall being asked "For English press 1, for German press 2". I don't. If it is unreasonable for Americans to expect other countries to speak English, why is it reasonable for illegals to expect us to be speaking Spanish and for our stores to be advertising in Spanish? I know a Spanish lady who has been in this country for 35+ years, raised a family here and still cannot speak English...wouldn't you think at some point she would have desired to speak the language of the country she's living in if for no other reason than to make it easier on herself?
I'm as proud to be an American as the next person but perhaps the reason we are not well liked in other countries is because some Americans think they know what is better for those peoples country than they do and we go as far as to try and impose our ideas on them. There could be many reasons....
Soccerguy, don't waste your time being "sick" over my opinions and/or comments. Take that energy and focus it on something really important...like keeping Cape from becoming another Miami, Florida.
Bickiestew--
Were you implying that you do not like Spanish signs being in stores or other things to help out spanish speakers? "Learn the language or get out" That makes me sick. I travel way to much to know that when Americans go to other countries they expect English to be every where. I am not say this is your Bickiestew but it just makes me sick when Americans have this attitude. It is no wonder our people are disliked by most of the cultural world.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I think a big thing that is being overlooked is the fact that ICE wanted these guys. There is something bigger brewing than illegals working for a roofing company. MS-13 might be worth googling...
Nil...
Are you saying the USA is responsible for the illegals pouring into our country faster than we can keep them out? If that's what you truly believe then we should all just keep silent and reap what we have sown. I don't think so and I don't think most people would agree to remain silent.
Not knowing what part of the country you are living in I can only assume it is an area that has not as yet been affected by the influx of illegals. I can assure you if you were living in my area of Southern California you would be seeing a much different picture and your concerns would not be focused on what may or may not be the USA's part in corruption in Mexico but on saving your neighborhoods from the illegals that are moving in and living 6+ families to one house, parking upwards of 13 cars on the street and in their yard, the rise in crime in your neighborhood, your children subjected to threats and taunts by illegals living next door, schools overcrowded and some closing,teachers dealing with children who do not speak English while your child who does speak English waits for instruction,hospitals closing and emergency waiting rooms over flowing with illegals and knowing you are paying for their treatment. Have you gone shopping lately in the USA and felt like you were actually in a foreign country because the signs were in Spanish and you are hearing Spanish being spoken? Have you felt the indignation of an illegal toward you because you do not speak Spanish although the illegal can't be bothered to learn to speak English?
I worked for a company here in California that hired 95% illegals....knowingly hired them. The reasons were simple...they will work for less money and they cause no trouble. The company had a "sweetheart union" and the complacient illegals made that possible. The smaller percentage of legal workers had no vote against the union that made a difference because the illegals voted however the union wanted. ICE was well aware that the illegals were there. In fact ICE would actually walk through the working yard and count how many we had working there. The employer is protected because the illegals buy forged drivers licenses and social security cards. All the employer has to do is ask for identification...he doesn't check to see if it's valid....he doesn't care. I agree with one of the others posters...these companies should be indentified, then you'd be able to know if you wanted to do business with them or not.
In my opinion, as long as it is easier to climb over the fence at the border than do anything to help their own country, the illegals will keep coming.
Greywolf....what charge do you think that the officer can arrest the person for? The officer can arrest the subject for no driver's license, but not for not having the proper id. Again, ONLY ICE can request a detainer on the person. Please show me the law that allows a local officer to arrest the subject. ICE is the ONLY agency that can deport a person.
In regards to most of your posts....you would be the first one to complain if an officer arrested someone without the authority to do so.
The city of Cape CAN pass an ordinance that makes it illegal for business to hire and landlords to rent to illegal aliens. Therefore the police can make legal arrests. Other cities have done this and bypassed cumbersome ICE.
Thank you officer Zajicek for being observant and doing your job. This is a great start. Keep it up.
If Zajicek wanted to be lazy, non-active, or pretend to be a Bollinger Co. cop, he could have looked the other way. BUT No, he was pro-active and made a good stop and 5 good arrests.
Why use this blog to slam him.(?) He did a good job. Cape Girardeau should be proud.
HELP STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.......MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: http://www.numbersusa.com/...
Bickiestew: "Instead of illegally entering this country looking for work, why don't they make an effort to change the situation in their own country that drives them to come here?"
How well do you know the history of US/Mexican relations? Every time there is even a hint of an uprising in Mexico the United States strongly supports the current government and helps to provide agents and intelligence to quell any disturbance. The US government and large US corporations that rely on cheap labor inside Mexico would never allow the situation in Mexico to change because the status quo benefits them to much. The only way any uprising has any chance at lasting is by aligning itself against those concerns and toward Cuba and other communistic allies who made actually be able to lend a tiny amount of aid; the most recent examples being the EZLN in Chipas & the APPO in Oaxaca.
It is Americans and outsiders who cause much of the corruption in Mexico. The insatiable American demand for drugs creates a whole lot of hard to trace money that seems to find its way into the pockets of government employees, politicians & law enforcement officers. An intelligent US drug policy would be the number one way to reduce governmental corruption in Mexican.
In any case as several other posters have noted until employers are regularly targeted and hit hard for employing illegal immigrants our government is not truly serious about fixing anything. Deporting immigrants without targeting the jobs they come to perform just creates a faster revolving door and makes them even more vulnerable to abuses. Take away the jobs and 95%+ of illegal immigrants will not come here. That will make it both realistic & affordable to target the small number of remaining illegal immigrants.
Bickystew is right. ILLEGAL aliens are a nightmare. Its not funny and you wait until they break the system. I live in apts where I know there are illegals and I know there are 8-20 at various times in each 2 bedroom apt. and so does the Landlord. They throw trash, *** outside, get drunk, like you say, they drive gorgeous cars and suvs and I am afraid of getting hit and I know they have NO insurance, but the Police will do nothing, the Landlords will do nothing and these parasites just do as they please. Apparently I have no rights while they do. Weren't those individuals arrested the same group that mailed the marijuana to the wrong address, its the only reason they were caught, did more come, and if they did who is the responsible landlord letting large groups of illegals rent the apartments?
Way to go Cape cops! I don't live in Cape any longer but I still read the paper online. I was hit by a van driven by one of these uninsured, unlicensed immigrants. Several of my friends have been too. Guess what...there ain't a thing you can do to them! File a claim on your insurance and watch the rates get jacked up!
It is interesting to read the story regarding the illegals in Cape. Especially the responses to them being arrested finally. This is a problem we face daily here in California and if Missouri doesn't do something soon you will find yourselves in the same boat we are in...crowded schools, hospitals closing,Americans who are willing to work replaced by illegals who will work for less money,illegals receiving aid while Americans go without,signs in stores like Wal-Mart and Penneys printed in Spanish,announcements in stores like the above mentioned being in Spanish, Illegals driving without a valid license and no insurance...where does that leave you if they happen to hit you?
These illegals aren't paying taxes here in this country...99% of their wages are being sent back to Mexico. Instead of illegally entering this country looking for work, why don't they make an effort to change the situation in their own country that drives them to come here?
I was born and raised in Cape and it breaks my heart to think that someday soon you all may be living with the same mess we have here in California. I would suggest you write your senator and your Governor and make your concerns known...you can't depend on the local police and ICE to fix this problem for you...stand up and take your city back before it's too late.
I bet Nathan Cooper helped them cross the border and land a job... They will be back in two months so just go ahead and leave their things at their apartment.
There are between 50 - 100 illegal immigrants living in Cape Girardeau. Their children even attend our schools. The police are well aware of this fact and know where most of them live- but they choose to ignore it. Many businesses employ them and pay them cash- these business owners are just as guilty of ignoring our laws as the illegal immigrants are.
Recently in the news there was an article about a town up north that did a recent illegal immigrant bust and arrrested over 300 illegal immigrants- most of which was employed in that town.
Most people do not realize just how many there are and choose to ignore it. Ignoring a problem doesn't make the problem go away. Ignoring a problem does nothing to resolve the problem.
Citizenwhoknows,
Like you said,"any idiot can have an opinion"!
Frankly,Melange is correct!This officer did indeed
miss the mark!Three encounters later he did his job!
Every Police officer in this Country has a right to
demand immigration papers and if not produced,can and
should arrest him or her first, than contact the INS.If the INS
does not act than i would suggest the individual be
released at the city limits and told not to return.
I also hope the local police dept.has or will be arresting the owner of this roofing company!!
Heck, I just asked WHY it took him THREE times to do his job of arresting illegal aliens. IF it was not his job or IF it was another department's fault fault...then great lets find out WHY they were NOT doing their job.
It would be interesting to learn what the "law" truly is, rather than other's opinions of what the "law" is. (Noting no one cited their thoughts.)
Cartman, it is good to see that someone on here knows what they are talking about and more than likely has experience in this realm as I do. Officer Zajicek does do a great job and is one of the best cops in Cape. So many speak out on these subjects when they have no clue of how the systems works, this comment section only proves that any idiot can have an opinion. I am not calling anyone an idiot, just making a point! Let's be real, I know many contractors and construction workers that own their own businesses. If you were to ask them the number one problem they encounter it would more than likely be the ability to find hard working reliable employees. Alot of Americans are lazy and demand high pay for little work. I don't think you should hire illegal immigrants but maybe some legal immigrants on a work visa. They come from nothing so they know the value of a hard days work. You're right they do work for less but the problem is they work twice as hard for less. That's just good business if you do it LEGALLY. Maybe if we could get out of our welfare mentality and work we could change that.
I have to agree with Cartman. He is almost right. Take care of the problem at the source. I may sound like a flaming liberal here, but in most cases, these people are just trying to put food on the table for their families, and any one of us would do the same. If my family was starving and I knew I could go to Mexico and make more money in a month than I could normally make in a year, I would go, work my ass off, and send my family a money order every chance I had. If there was no work, I would not stay. I would rather be with my family. I did say, in most cases...there are those who will come here just to engage in illegal activities...like the Hatians, Cubans, and Jamaicans in Miami.
But like someone said, please don't deport the cooks. Me gusta comer comida mexicana.
Hasta la vista.
I personally own a roofing company in this area and due to the practice of other roofing companies, I am out bid on most jobs due to the low wages that are paid to the illegals. I hire hard working Americans. We work long days in the extreme heat and cold. We are on call 24 hours a day especially during bad weather. I along with my crew struggle daily to make ends meet due to the practice of other roofing companies. We are honest hard working people, but the illegals do put a major hardship on us when we are constantly out bid because the other roofing companies can pay workers $2 an hour. This is unfair to everyone not just the roofing/construction industry. I strongly support any business to be investigated for hiring illegals. The arguement will be that no one wants to work for the amount of work that is required for the pay. I receive calls daily for people looking for work. As individuals you agree to work for a certian amount of pay and you are aware of your job duties.
Your right cartman. I totally agree.
The officer does not have the legal authority to hold the illegal aliens. The most he can do is arrest the person for driving without a license and the person will be released after a ticket or after a night in jail if ICE does not want the person. He has to contact ICE and then they must due something about it. They WILL NOT come and get someone just because they do not have the proper id or no driver's license.
The officer in question DOES do his job. He contacts ICE on EVERY undocumented person that he comes in contact with, but ICE determines who is going to get deported. The officer cannot just arrest someone because they do not have documentation, no matter how silly that sounds to the rest of us. It is his job and he is following the restrictions set on him.
Again, why are you blaming the police officer? ICE will not come and get a person because they do not have a driver's license. Blame ICE or the government, but not this officer.
Also, put blame with the people that hire illegal aliens, as most of the people on this blog are trying to do. If they cannot earn money, then they will not stay here.
If the PD hung out in that area a little more they would realize that there are many more than 5 illigal immigrants living there and in a couple other areas of Cape. The issue could also be resolved to a small extent if the city had a law against renting to illegal immigrants.
swampeastmissouri,
If I'm not mistaken, to qualify for any assistance programs...one must be a legal resident of the US.
Roofers are fair game, but stay away from the cooks in the Mexican restaurants. If the police really want to make a pinch, they need to show up at Schnuck's on friday evening with a bus as they leave the store with the money orders.
I agree that something should have been done on previous stops, but let`s focus on the the roofer that hires the illegals, post his name, call out these people that hire them, if they don`t have a job they will go home. This is AMERICA not Mexico, learn the language. To the police department check `em all.
61,575 American citizens murdered/killed by illegal aliens in the United States of America since 911.
I'm glad to see we are finally enforcing the immigration laws of this country. There is a lot more of Illegals in Cape that need to be picked up and deported back to Mexico. Good job Cape Girardeau Police, now if we can just get the Welfare offices across the State enforcing the immigration laws may be we can get the majority of the illegals deported out of here.
Good point - the best way to end illegal immigration is to prosecute to the fullest extent the companies that continue to hire workers without documentation.
Send a couple of shady business folks to jail and watch the illegal immigration flood dry up!
"Zajicek had dealt with Hernandez at his home on two previous occasions and knew he did not possess a valid driver's license." and "He started checking the paperwork on those individuals and learned that none of them had paperwork to be in the United States,"
Okay...now I'm wondering WHY it took Zajicek THREE occasions to do HIS job properly?
"if the immigration agency did not ask for a hold undocumented immigrants would not be arrested." WHY? Is it NOT against a law to be in the country illegally? I thought our country was in a war against terrorism?
I agree with jcwill, what roofing company? Is there a law against hiring undocumented immigrants? IF there is, WHY hasn't the owner been arrested?
What roofing company was it Rudi? If they will break the law in hiring illegal aliens, the company might have other shady business practices. I guess a company could have made an honest mistake and hired one illegal by accident, but if everyone arrested in that car was hired by the same company, THAT is a different matter.