Morristown Council considers Cresitello plan to deputize police
BY MINHAJ HASSAN
DAILY RECORD
MORRISTOWN -- Mayor Donald Cresitello and town council listened Tuesday night to nearly three hours of citizen testimony on his plan to deputize town police as federal immigration agents.
More than 200 people jammed the council chambers and spilled into the hallways, offering often strong opinions for and against the mayor's plan.
Bottom line: Cresitello is sticking by his guns and proceeding with the application to deputize the police in town.
After the hours of testimony, Cresitello said, "Don't tell me we don't need to enforce immigration laws. There are thousands of people crossing the line, who are criminals."
He also vowed that "we will never, ever profile."
The mayor said he had asked ministers to open churches to help mostly Hispanic day laborers who gather on town streets seeking work.
Takes on clerics
"Not one minister has done anything significant" to address stacking, prostitution, or slavery, he said. "But they'll put the basket out to take their money," the mayor said of the church collection plates.
In the past, police investigations on criminal aliens were hampered because local police did not have enough authority to go after them.
"We did not have the authority to intervene," the mayor said. "It made it look like we didn't care."
He said near his own home there were cases of money laundering, prostitution and slavery that involve illegal aliens.
Among those rising to speak was Ruby Winston of Hillairy Avenue. She said she backs the mayor's policy. "I'm with you 100 percent, you can count on that. I did office cleaning for 20 years and lost my job to the illegals," she told the mayor and council. She also said it's not true that Americans won't do jobs that immigrants will.
Outside support
Miguel Cruz of You Don't Speak for Me, an American-Hispanic organization opposed to illegal immigration said, "It is time to recognize the severe problem that it is."
"I had 17 people living across the street (in a single residence)," said Walker Avenue resident Jamie Ramsfelder. She said she couldn't walk in the area without some of those illegal aliens making inappropriate remarks.
She added that one of the illegal immigrants had urinated in the hedges, and another was so drunk he fell asleep in the bushes and almost froze to death.
Ramsfelder's husband, Jonathan, who also supports Cresitello's proposal, said, "The only thing I'm disappointed about is that it is not law yet."
Longtime resident Bob Tracy said "Thank God they gave us a young man who had the guts (to stand up to the illegal aliens problem)," referring to Cresitello. Tracy said he was "surprised and couldn't believe" there are were so many people in the council chambers "for illegality."
His remarks prompted applause.
Resident Ralph Bacharach said, "I think it's an opportunity for Morristown to take a leadership role."
While he respects hardworking immigrants who came to make a better life for themselves and their families, "that doesn't give them the right to break the laws of this community."
John A Rucki, co-chairman of the New Jersey Citizens for Immigration Control, based in Carlstadt, supported the policy. He said there are more than 600,000 illegal aliens who are either murderers or rapists, killed children or police officers in the nation.
He also blamed employers for exacerbating the problem.
"Those employers who aid or abet should get a "Go to Jail card," he said.
He pointed out that the deputization program does not enable police officers to conduct active sweeps. "That's part of the agreement."
On the other hand
Opponents of the mayor's deputization plan just about balanced the testimony supporting him.
Otto Maduro said "We will all pay very dearly if this policy is implemented. Hispanics are becoming the scapegoat."
Tom Clark-Shakir, an imam of The Islamic Clergyman Dedicated to the Leadership of W.D. Mohammed Ministry, "He's being influenced by small group of people who are turning him into a wicked man. It is a Gestapo tactic. Hitler started the same way."
Town resident David Silva said the program "is not a good measure for Morristown. I don't want to live in a place that's prejudiced."
He added that taking such a position ignores the positive contributions the immigrant community has made in Morristown.
Resident Tony Garcia said the program "directly targets the increasingly dominant Hispanic community and other minorities."
Intent of program
Town lawyers said the deputization program, formally known as 287-G, is intended for local law enforcement agencies to address the issue of criminal aliens.
Under the plan, up to 10 police officers would go through about five weeks of training from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would enable them to enforce immigration laws.
Councilman Timothy Jackson asked whether the program would give police officers the ability to "supersede" probable cause when going after illegal immigrants.
The lawyers said no.
Councilman John Cryan asked that if a police officer stopped an illegal alien for jaywalking, could that officer then check their citizenship status.
Lawyers said that in theory, they could.
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Minhaj Hassan can be reached at (973) 267-9038 or mhassan@gannett.com.
THIRTY THREE COMMENTS
Reader Comment Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:21 pm
I have lived in the Dover area for 30 years now and have watched a once beautiful town turn dirty, grimy, and over crowded. I can only hope Dover adopts the same policy. I loath the part of my day when I have to drive thru Dover if it’s not a cab who cuts you off its someone jay walking right in the middle of rt. 46. And the cause of this is illegal immigrants. They come from 3rd world countries and bring there way of life here. All that garbage about how they do the job the Americans wont is a big fat lie. My brother who lives in L.A. is a painter who at one point made good money and employed legal Americans now has to work for less or lose his jobs because illegals will do it for cheaper. When I was in high school and college in the summer and some during the school year I did landscaping. That’s what young kids used to do. Now they can’t because of some illegal doing it cheaper. How many landscapers, dishwashers, cleaning people do we need? What do you do when all those jobs are filled?????? And I love the line America was built with immigrants so it should be today is garbage. Just cause something worked years ago doesn’t mean it will work today. That worked because people were needed. I don’t need 20 people wanting to mow my lawn I can do it myself. If you still believe illegal immigrants are doing such great things for our country take a walk in Morristown or Dover and can you really say that this place is better and safe? On every corner there is someone hanging out doing nothing. Don’t we have loitering laws? Who wants to see that? Please every town should have there officers do this!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a night Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:21 pm
I hope that the people of Morris County and The United States wake up. Last nights' display of support for Illegal Immigration was astounding. If this is not a call for action, I know not of any other. Over this past weekend the supporters actually flew Mexican flags at the rally. I didn't see any last night, but it wouldn't of surprised me. It's time to wake up Morris County. It is time to wake up America. Join with other like-minded citizens and cause change. Thank you Mayor. You are a true American. It is people such as yourself that are the catalyst for change.
Reader Comment Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:44 pm
SIMPLY PUT, WHAT THE MAYOR OF MORRISTOWN IS DOING BY WAY OF ADDING 'LIMITED INS ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES" TO THE MORRISTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COMMENDABLE AND LONG OVER-DUE EVERYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ALL MORRIS COUNTY AND FOR THAT MATTER ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY (AT THE MINIMUM) SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO QUALIFIED AS WELL!
THOSE INDIVIDUAL'S CLAIMING TO REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HAVE THE MENDACITY TO ACCUSE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF BLATANT AND RACIST ACTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCING THE LAWS "OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE" (AND BY THE WAY, "THE PEOPLE" ARE "THE CITIZENS" OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA).
WEBSTER'S NINETH NEW COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY DEFINES THE WORD "ILLEGAL" AS, 1 : "NOT ACCORDING TO OR AUTHORIZED BY LAW", 2 : "AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT".
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE PROTESTERS DELIBERATELY AND POSSIBLY FOR THEIR OWN SELF-INTEREST DO CONVENIENTLY IGNOR, FORGET, HIDE, DODGE, AND FOG THE FACT THAT "ILLEGAL" IS "ILLEGAL".
WEBSTER'S ALSO DEFINES THE WORD "RACISM" AS, "1 : A BELIEF THAT RACE IS THE PRIMARY DETERMINANT OF HUMAN TRAITS AND CAPACITIES AND THAT RACIAL DIFFERENCES PRODUCE AN INHERENT SUPERIORITY IN A PARTICULAR RACE 2 : RACIAL PREJUDICE OR DISCRIMINATION".
CLAIMS OF RACISM HAVE NO PART IN THE EQUATION OF "ENFORCING THE PEOPLES LAWS". THOSE THAT USE THE "RACE TRUMP CARD" DO SO FOR THEIR OWN MISGUIDED (OR MAYBE DELIBERATE) INFLAMATORY PURPOSES (MOST LIKELY FOR THE SELF-GRATIFICATION THEY FEEL WHEN THEY SEE THEIR PICTURE OR READ THEIR NAME AND COMMENTS IN THE NEWSPAPER OR BETTER YET ON THE TV NEWS BROADCAST COVERAGE OF THE "PROTESTS".
WHAT THE "RACE BAITER" DOES NOT REALIZE IS THAT HIS OR HER VERY ACTIONS ARE AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL RACISM.
FACT: THE MORRISTOWN POLICE ARE "OBLIGATED BY PERSONAL OATH" TO ENFORCE ALL LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, AND THEREFORE, THE PROTESTS OF RACE DISCRIMINATION ARE NOT A FACTOR WHEN THE LAW(S) IS (ARE) BROKEN BY HUMAN BEINGS.
FACT: A HUMAN BEING ILLEGALLY ENTERING AND RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND AFTER ALL THE DEBATE HAS ENDED, IS STILL RESIDING IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.
THE "PEOPLE" HAVE EMPOWERED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO APPREHEND INDIVIDUALS ENTERING AND RESIDING IN OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY AND RETURN THEM TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.
IMMIGRANTS HAVE FOR CENTURIES LEGALLY ENTERED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND MANY HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A CITIZEN, LIVE HERE LEGALLY, AND RAISE A FAMILY OF NEW CITIZENS.
THEREFORE, ALLOWING ILLEGALS (OF ANY ETHNIC ORIGIN) TO ENTER AND RESIDE IN OUR COUNTRY DOES A GREAT DISSERVICE TO ALL THE IMMIGRANTS THAT FOLLOWED THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A CITIZEN!!
SO DON'T FAULT THE "ELECTED" MAYOR OF MORRISTOWN FOR ENFORCING THE LAWS HE TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE TO UPHOLD AND ENFORCE. AND WHEN ALL THE DUST HAS SETTLED REMEMBER THIS FACT: "ILLEGAL IS STILL ILLEGAL."
Mayor's initiative Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:20 pm
First of all, if people are really trying to make the case that this is not a racist initiative then calling all hispanic immigrant, legal or not, cockroaches isn't really going do it. It ridiculous to assume that all immigrants are rapist, theives, or murderers. There is good and bad in every group. Might I remind you of the KKK, the oklahoma city bombing, etc. There are also non-immigrant rapist, theives, and murderers. There are many immigrants that contribute to our community and our country and people that say that they are cockroaches set our country back to a time of pure racism and ideas of racial supremacy. I don't believe that all white people are racist. But the ones that make comments like those are the bad apples that make many people believe that all white people are racist.
Furthermore, the initiative that the mayor is trying to enact is meant to deport nondocumented immigrants that commit federal crimes. I don't see anything wrong with that part. BUT he keeps saying that he wants to use it to crack down on stacking and on the daylaborers that stand on street corners. So already he is planning on using the ICE initiative illegaly. I was at the coucil meeting last night. And as one of the residents that is in favor of mayor cresitelo's plan said, "two wrongs don't make a right"
Grammer & Spell Check Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:13 pm
Thank God we only have to learn the English language and not learn spelling or grammar. 90% of the posters here would be thrown out if that were the case.
Can we give an English test to the people born here too? Think of how many people we can get rid of with this one. I can see it now. Good vs. Well. Accept vs. Except. Either vs. Neither. Farther vs. Further. My favorite: Literally vs. Figuratively. We can nail 90% on that last one.
Real Americans, as these immigrants would know if they had made any attempts to assimilate, stay home and write to their congressman or yell things at the TV.
One more thing... We don't want your words (Spanish, German, Italian et cetera) to be used in OUR language. So take back kindergarten, faux pas, pro bono et cetera. Wait. I want aqua and ajar. Agua is fun to say, and my Japanese car announces the later each time I leave the door open when I drive.
Only the President has the right to break the law in the USA.
Reader Comment Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:51 pm
What is more disgusting then these dirtbag spanish illegal immigrants is the people that stick up for them! They receive all types of free goverment handouts.What about our people white americans that are here legally that cannot afford health care or feed their children.What about our seniors?They cant get welfare but these scum spanish do! They are NOT humans! They are uneducated pieces of crap!
emiral1126:
You said about 95 percent of the people in newark were asian and european well thats cause they have respect for America.They want a better life and are doing it the correct way.They dont get handouts,they don't sit around on welfare having 5-6 kids,they don't sell drugs to our children,they dont demand to have stuff writing intheir lanuage! The spanish illegals and legals want everything catered to them.
You go to walmart or sears and everything is writing in english and spanish ! That is plain bull crap. If they dont want to learn the lanugage then get the heck out! Even when you make phone calls press 1 for english or 2 for spanish! What give me a break.
Hate to say it but this is what you call "THE BROWNING OF AMERICA"!
If I went to Mexico or South America do you think I would be giving the same free handouts that they get here?Do you think they would put signs in English and Spanish? I think not.The majority of our prisions are spanish illegal immigrants. They are there for rape,murder,drugs,theft,gangs.
These dirtbags should be banned from breeding.
Go to the streets of Dover if your a female and tell me if you feel comfortable walking down the street by yourself!
ONE COUNTRY
ONE FLAG
ONE LANUAGE!!!!!!!!!
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