Criminal illegal alien still at large after search called off in Apex

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Apex Police Department called off a search on Monday for a criminal illegal alien wanted on multiple sex offense warrants after he ran away from police.

Police said that 27-year-old Jonathan Escobedo-Ramirez ran away from officers in the area of Lufkin Road and East Williams Street on Monday morning.

Reports say that DHS had the warrants for Escobedo-Ramirez, who was convicted of sexual battery against a 14-year-old in May 2018 and deported in July 2018, but later illegally re-entered the country. He is also wanted for illegal reentry after deportation and failure to register as a sex offender, according to DHS.

The search on Monday, which included police drones and K9s in a wooded area, was called off several hours later.

Escobedo-Ramirez is described as a Hispanic, adult male, about 5′ tall, who was last seen wearing a neon yellow shirt.

Apex Police said in a Facebook post that people in the area should continue to “be on the lookout” for this wanted fugitive and call 911 immediately if they see him.

Illegal immigration gains attention across the US and In north carolina

Illegal immigration has been an important issue for elected leaders across the political spectrum nationwide and in North Carolina.

The General Assembly recently overrode one of Democrat Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes involving an immigration bill, while the other is on the calendar to be vetoed.

SB 153, North Carolina Border Protection Act, mandates broad cooperation between state agencies and federal immigration authorities and seeks to curb sanctuary city policies across the state.

Beyond law enforcement, SB 153 instructs state agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Employment Security to review public benefits distributed to unauthorized immigrants and ensure those benefits are curtailed where prohibited by law.

The bill also includes a provision to waive local government immunity for jurisdictions deemed “sanctuary” cities or counties, allowing private citizens to sue if they suffer harm as a result of illegal immigrant activity. Additionally, it bars UNC System campuses from adopting policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

“At a time when our law enforcement is already stretched thin, this bill takes state law enforcement officers away from their existing state duties and forces them to act as federal immigration agents,” the governor said in June. “Furthermore, under current law, people without lawful immigration status are already prevented from receiving Medicaid, SNAP, Section 8, and other benefits.”  

The Senate overrode the veto on July 29, and the House is expected to try to override the veto on Aug. 26.

HB 318, The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, compels law enforcement agencies to honor detainer requests from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. When an undocumented individual is arrested and ICE issues a detainer, local officials must hold the person for up to 48 hours to allow for federal pickup.

The legislation prohibits local governments from adopting sanctuary policies and introduces penalties — including potential loss of state funding — for noncompliance. Additionally, it requires jail administrators to notify ICE when they reasonably believe someone in custody is unlawfully present in the United States, even if a detainer has not yet been issued.

Stein said while he vetoed HB 318 because he believes it is unconstitutional, he does support the bill’s efforts to require sheriffs to contact federal immigration authorities about people in their custody charged with sexual battery, armed robbery, arson, assault on public officials and court personnel, and other dangerous crimes.

“People who commit these crimes should be held accountable, whether or not they are here without legal authorization, and those charged with serious offenses ought to receive increased scrutiny from federal immigration officials.”

But he said his oath of office requires that he uphold the Constitution of the United States.

“Therefore, I cannot sign this bill because it would require sheriffs to unconstitutionally detain people for up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released,” he said. “The Fourth Circuit is clear that local law enforcement officers cannot keep people in custody solely based on a suspected immigration violation. But let me be clear: anyone who commits a serious crime in North Carolina must be prosecuted and held accountable regardless of their immigration status.”

Stein’s veto of the bill was overridden on July 29 and became law.

The post Criminal illegal alien still at large after search called off in Apex first appeared on Carolina Journal.

The post Criminal illegal alien still at large after search called off in Apex appeared first on First In Freedom Daily.