Time to Hold City Coucils Responsible for Enforcing Law

Parents sue Austin, 2 police officials in teen girl's killing
The reporting of suspects who are illegal immigrants could've prevented her death, they say

Associated Press
Nov. 9, 2005, 11:35PM

AUSTIN - The parents of an 18-year-old who was killed by an illegal immigrant are suing the city of Austin and two police officials, claiming officers could have prevented their daughter's death by reporting crime suspects who are undocumented.

In their suit, Humberto Garcia and his wife, Ann Hayden, allege the city has a policy against reporting undocumented immigrants and say it should be overturned. The city's lawyer denies the policy exists.

The couple's daughter, Jenny Garcia Hayden, was killed in January 2004 after a man broke into the family's home and attacked her with a butcher knife.

The teenager's former co-worker, 22-year-old David Diaz Morales, pleaded guilty in the death and was sentenced to life in prison.

Two years before, Austin police had investigated Diaz on suspicion of child molestation, but didn't arrest him for lack of evidence.

Garcia Hayden's parents think Austin police knew Diaz was a Mexican citizen living in the country illegally and should have called immigration authorities.

"What happened (to Jenny) happened because he was illegally in the country and was not deported," Garcia said.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Austin, names Police Chief Stan Knee and Assistant Chief Rudy Landeros as defendants.

It claims the city and police department have illegal policies that restrict employees from communicating with federal authorities about the immigration status of people in Austin.

The suit seeks a court order to prevent such restrictions by the city.

The city's lawyer, Anne Morgan, said Austin doesn't have a policy to prohibit employees from calling immigration officials.

The City Council has approved a resolution labeling Austin a "safety zone" where all people "are treated equally, with respect and dignity regardless of immigration status," Morgan added.

Since immigrants are frequently targets for robberies and other crimes, Austin police try to inform them that they won't be turned over to immigration authorities for reporting a crime.

This is a good lawsuit. These jerks in the Austin city council need to be taken down for this inane policy of forgiving the crime of illegal immigration. Safety Zone indeed, what about the "safety zone" for the people.
We see the same policy in Houston. Mayor White pay attention, you could be next.
Full Story: Muderous Illegals

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