On January 5, 2010, Millard County ( Utah) deputy sheriff, Josie Fox, was shot and killed during a traffic stop. Roberto Miramontes Roman, who is illegally in the United States despite multiple deportations and a long criminal history, has been charged with the murder.
Roman has an arrest record dating back to 1992 for the distribution of drugs. In 1997, he was sentenced to fifteen years in the Utah State prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and carrying a concealed dangerous weapon. He served 14 months before being paroled into the custody of INS agents and deported.
After his first deportation, Roman returned to the U.S. from Mexico, was caught, served prison time for illegally reentering the United States and was deported a second time.
Once again, he returned illegally to the United States and to the small rural community that he calls home.
Eighteen years after his first arrest and over ten years after first being deported, Roman was still selling drugs and had just completed a transaction with the brother of the slain deputy.
Despite his criminal record, ongoing drug dealing and illegal immigration status, Roman was still able to find employment on local dairy farms.
Rather than trying to hide from law enforcement and immigration authorities, the accused killer had a MySpace page in his own name. He posted photos of himself holding firearms even though it is unlawful for convicted felons and illegal aliens to have guns.
Comments posted in response to news reports about the murder of the deputy sheriff are strongly worded as people express anger with all aspects of the United State’s failed immigration system.
Various posters have taken aim at those who are responsible for making and enforcing the nation’s immigration laws along with the employers and other enablers of illegal aliens.
“No Peace Officer in the United States of America should have to die at the hands of an illegal alien. Every politician who has not done everything in their power to shut down the border has blood on their hands!,” wrote Ramadi05.
According to Paige, “Our politicians should be the ones to blame for this Sheriff being killed. They invite illegals here, give them drivers licenses for ID, give them welfare, food stamps, education, WIC, loans and give them more than they give our own homeless.”
DeportThemAll wrote that “We need to march downtown just like all the illegals did who waved their mexican flags in our faces, and march right up to [Senator] Bennett, [Senator] Hatch's, [Utah Attorney General] Shurtleff's, [Salt Lake City Police Chief] Burbank's, and [Salt Lake City Mayor] Becker's offices and hand them their pink slips. This woman's blood is on YOUR hands, you spineless PC bum politicians who have allowed this illegal mexican invasion continue for over twenty years now.”
CatScratchFvr writes “Dear Mark Shurtleff, [Governor] Gary Herbert, and Utah Legislature, Josie Fox is dead because you worthless vermin continue to allow illegal immigrants to enter and work in Utah, unchecked! When are you going to enforce the law and punish businesses that hire illegal aliens? When are you going to stop skirting around the issue?”
In response to CatScratchFvr’s post, Lee D says, “Don't forget to add the Sutherland Institute, the Editors of the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune and misguided religious leaders to your list to blame as well. They've all come out in support of illegal aliens.”
“Enough already,” writes Brandon W. “Attention illegal immigration enablers. Check your hands. They are stained with the blood of yet another victim.”
Commenting on the refusal of many in Utah’s law enforcement community to enforce immigration laws or to inquire about immigration status, dvdburner writes, "Salt Lake City Cops and other Utah Counties said last year - They will not enforce immigration Laws,,, it amounts to "racial profiling" -- Well if they had enforced immigration laws ,,, This deputy would still be alive today.. This Deputies blood is on your hands."
Doogie1MD writes: “I remember a few months ago, the law enforcement community stating they refused to play the role of Immigration officers... With all respect, perhaps now, that one of their own has been gunned down by the very trash they refused to clean up, they might take a different view of the problem the United States faces, instead of turning their backs on the problem, lest they offend the Hispanic community."
Focusing on employers, hijodeelway says: This is going to continue to happen unless the owner of the dairy gets charged with manslatter (sic). This lady's blood is on your hands too.”
Dixie Dan asks: “Why did employers continually hire an illegal immigrant?….Will these employers be cited for breaking the law? I doubt it as illegals provide cheap labor for them. As a result, look at the tragic event that happened since they didn't follow the law and allowed this man to remain in Utah.”
“And since the dairy hired someone here illegally, why is ICE not shutting them down? Or at least checking to see if other people here illegally are working there,” VJ73NH asks.
‘Many to blame’ argues that the problem includes both employers and the entire illegal alien community. “These two criminals seemed to have plenty of places to hide and a lot of support moving from one location to another….The 'average' illegal is the one giving support to the hardened criminals within their ranks,….”
It is difficult to find posts that directly support illegal immigrants. There are a few posts that take issue with references to the countries of origin of illegal aliens and/or the ethnicity of illegal aliens. Others focus on the plight that illegal aliens face in their home countries or the role Americans play in encouraging illegal immigration.
Gabriel Urbina writes, “To all the cowards that like to post racist comments on blog spots like this should be ashamed of yourselve….mexicans just like every other single ethnicity has its criminals so dont start thowing out stats like one third of murders are commited by illegals..... what about the other two thirds? should we talk down on them? no, because they are americans right, or should i say U. S. citizens.”
‘I’m sorry’ says, “but as an LDS mother.. we are taught to do be and do what's best for our FAMILIES. and if that means breaking a certain law that ISN'T harming anyone like jumping the border to give MY KIDS a better life. Then heck i would do the same!! ….i would do ANYTHING for my kids, and i sure believe you all would to! give these poor people a break. have you been to mexico? i'd run to if i was mexican.”
“Since this is anonymous i will admit i hire illegals,” writes ‘To: I'm sorry.’ “3 of my employees are university graduates with degrees in accounting, business administration and one is an engineer. now they're here working 16 hour shifts for me making $7 an hour. i know unfair. in their [country] there are NO jobs for them. NONE. no means to feed themselves or their families.”
According to DustyLaroux, everyone is to blame, “All this vitriole about illegal immigrants….If you live in a new construction home, gave your roofing contract to the lowest bidder, shop at WalMart or do illegal drugs, you support illegal immigration despite all the hatred you type here. Would you be happier if the drug dealer who killed the deputy were a natural born citizen? Would that make her any less dead?
Comments