Undocumented Immigrant Who Helped Police Solve Murder Now Facing Deportation
An undocumented immigrant who came forward to help police solve a high-profile murder is being rewarded for his bravery by being deported. Police informant Charbel Chehoud finds himself behind bars and may be sent back to Lebanon as early as tomorrow:
According to a recent article in the NY Daily News, the murder of Michael Augulis in 1999 would have gone unsolved if it weren’t for Chehoud’s aid to law enforcement officials. Originally called an accidental drowning in Sandy Hook Bay, Chehoud told police that two men in a fishing boat had thrown Augulis overboard, knowing he couldn’t swim. New Jersey State Police later arrested the two men, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
New Jersey police and prosecutors have pleaded Chehoud’s case, telling federal immigration officials that he was so critical to solving the case that he should be allowed to stay, not punished for coming forward.
Undocumented immigrants often avoid reporting crimes against themselves or others precisely because they fear exposing themselves to law enforcement officials. Chehoud’s treatment is likely to solidify that impression and discourage the undocumented from seeking out help when they need it. Local police officials have testified that the deportation program Secure Communities has eroded the trust between them and immigrant communities and jeopardized public safety.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/01/10/401261/undocumented-immigrant-who-helped-police-solve-murder-now-facing-deportation/