Virginia Beach Mayor responds to O'Reilly outburst

Last night on the O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly got into it with Geraldo Rivera over a incident involving a drunk driver that killed two under-aged girls in Virginia Beach.  The suspect was an illegal immigrant.  O'Reilly blamed the city officials for not deporting the male suspect after an earlier drunk-driving conviction.

It is difficult to reason why someone coming to this country illegally would not be deported for breaking the law.  That is not the cause of debate.  The debate is over whether city officials are to blame, even though it is the federal government's job to enforce the border.  O'Reilly thought so.  Rivera differed.

The two engaged in a three-minute shouting match, which ended up striking a nerve back in Virginia.  Virginia Beach city officials called a press conference in the late night hours of Thursday, and blamed O'Reilly for distorting the issue as a family mourns:

During the news conference, MayorMeyera Oberndorf said she has never even O'Reilly's show and did notmention him by name throughout the conference.

Themayor and Tessa Tranchant's father both said that making an issue outof immigration loses the focus that the girls were killed by a man thatpolice said was driving drunk.

Ray Tranchant said, "We need to heal, and to bring immigration, that's disrespectful to a family who's just mourning."

Just in case you missed the O'Reilly/Rivera cat fight, here is the video.  It gets heated around the middle part:

Comments

[Ronda Young]

Bill O'Reilly was right, had this man not have been in the country in the first place, he would not have had the opportunity to be in a vehicle driving under the influence of alcohol. He would be doing this in his country, and those innocent girls would still be alive.

[Jim Hoeft]

Both O'Reilly and Rivera are right. The man should have been off the streets in a car with his first DUI -- that's a state issue that needs to be solved, and quick.

But what also amazes me, is that the
local, state and federal authorities are not talking to one another about folks who are in the country illegally.

As a resident of the Virginia Beach area, I can tell you that we're all a little amazed this guy wasn't deported the first time he was arrested.

[Chief Administrator: Todd]

Great comments, ya'll! The only thing that I would emphasize is that city officials in the state of Virginia do not have the authority to deport anyone back to Mexico. That is the government's job. Rivera, who I don't think much of, was trying to spell that out to O'Reilly, and O'Reilly wouldn't listen.

If anything, the federal government should have got their act together and deported this guy. If you want a path to citizenship, you need to follow the law. This guy did not. The federal government dropped the ball. Sadly, O'Reilly made the officials at Virginia Beach the scapegoats.

[George]

Ronda's comment was not "great" :) She misses the whole point. Of course they should have been been deported - that much is obvious. O'Reilly shies away from criticizing the feds because whenever someone does that it implies that the Bush Adm has screwed up somewhere along the way.

5 yrs after 9/11 we still cant deport convicted criminals? Someone in the federal govt is out to lunch. And I'm sure it's more than just some ONE.

[Tony Linder]

Monica Nista`s "Fair and Balanced" reporting was anything but. Oh, thats right she works for ABC and the big three news outlets are clearly left leaning and not shy about it. Makes it even more ridiculous she would mock Fox news motto. How about some follow up Monica, it seems the drunk driver IS here illigally, not just an O`Reilly "claim" as reported by you.

[Cyd]

Hello? What is the issue here? The facts are there is someone's child who is dead because of a drunk driving incident. Period. I don't see this as an immigration issue. That is a "by the way", he was an illegal immigrant...
Drunk drivers take hundreds of thousands of lives every year - isn't that what happened here? Someone's child is DEAD. And you're talking about immigration in the US? Something's wrong with this picture.

[Jim]

The issue is not deportation. If Ramos is deported he will just come back to the US illegally. He killed two young girsl and he needs to go to prison. Enough with the deportation issue.

[Heather]

Sending this guy back to his country doesn't make everybody safer. It only makes some Americans safer. If this guy went back to Mexico he would be drinking and driving there, killing innocent people there. My heart goes out to the families that lost their daughters, but the fact is that they could've been killed by drunk driving citizen too. We all wish we could go back in time to fix any negligence that caused something bad to happen to us. We can't. It's sad but that is life.

[robert lipton]

hilarious how the abc reporter slanted the story....still trying to defend rosie????

[The Mexican]

George is right in this instance. Out of all the drugs we do legalize, we keep tabacco and alcohol. This is an issue of drugs: usage, criminalization, abuse, and legality. Not immigration. O'Reilly's point is removing the logical chain of, as what Geraldo pointed out, cause in the effect. This effect (of killing two girls in a drunken state of mind) was not caused by the person being a illegal immigrant. The cause was (and is) the drugs taken and issues are of the absence of vehicle safety while intoxicated. (Note: I contend that all drugs be made legal, as it's individual's choice not government's responsibility, so long as people don't hurt and abuse others; and when those people do, harsh consequences must be lain down upon the trangessor(s).)

[mitchell herron]

the job of the govt. of the u.s. is to protect it's citizens. if that means shipping all criminal aliens, whomever, back to their country of origin,that's what needs to happen. then their respective govt's. can deal with their criminal acts. do you really think, if this wretch had been caught in mexico dui that he would get another chance to kill someone? it's their problems. force them to deal with them!

[Chief Administrator: Todd]

Mitchell, I understand your concern. But what O'Reilly was doing was very political. He was distorting the issue to his viewers. He has a responsibility in front of 10 million people to tell the truth. City officials are not in charge of deporting ANYONE. He was slamming city officials for that, and it was not fair. If anything, O'Reilly should have slammed the city officials for not dealing with their drunk-driving problem.

If you got a problem with immigration, direct your criticisms toward the federal government. Local officials have to deal with enough un-funded mandates as it is. The immigration burden belongs to the federal government, not cities.

[Joey]

this just goes to show how racism very much still exists in this country. this is clearly a drunk driving issue, not an "immigration" issue. if the driver was not an illegal immigrant, this would have come on the 11 o'clock news, and then that would have been the end of it. O`Reilly wouldn't have even brought it up....

[Robe]

This guy O' Reilly is a big bully. He screams and tries to intimidate people with his big mouth. I could not deal with a person screaming in my face like that. Geraldo was making a serious point and O' Reilly was just being an idiot.

[Margie]

First of all Imfrom VA Beach and Geraldo I Know the people down here take DUIs very seriously. We have had alot of innocent kids and people killed because of it down here. Im sure the stats has increased in the last few years.
I agree with Bill Had Ramos been deported or jailed the first time he got into trouble those girls would never have been murdered by Ramos himself.
Trust me there is nothing that the beach Council doesnt know about when it comes to laws changing, in the end they give the ok as in anywhere you live.Politics are for the rich people to get richer and helping thier friends out.
I think its a crock the Federal Govt. can make it to where they can break the laws and make it easier for the guilty to go free.
I feel bad for the immagrants who come here legally and had to go through all the proper channels. Its so easy now a days for people to get anything fake noone knows whos legal or not. ANd we wonder why 911 happened.
Bill I commend you on using this as to maybe to get people to maybe actually understand whats going on with all this immigration Most times in the face of a tragedy comes a eye opening to people. May this be a lesson we need stricter laws in DUIs and immigration and the citizens of America need to take a stand for our beautiful country and remember what our forefathers and our soldiers are fighting for and fought for.
I know this may sounds harsh but Im glad it wasnt my daughter because I WOULD HAVE PAID FOR HIS BAIL and may God been merciful on us both.
As for the place he works for I wonder if anymone has gone there and made sure all employees were legal. I doubt doubt it though.I think weve taking dont ask dont tell to a whole new level. Dont you?

[rich]

The city officials ARE resoponsible since it is a Sanctuary City and they don't report illegals to the Feds. That in turn makes it an immigration issue, duh. If the Feds would have gotten word on this guy and they deported him then the girls would still be alive. THINK!!!

[thered]

What gets me is VA Beach is a sanctuary city. There is a large Air Force base and Navy base nearby and they have no problem with illegals?
It seems to me if you speak Spanish you get a pass. I have a friend who is Chinese, here legally, after having to quit her job at the UN applied for a green card. Because she kiss the INS agent's butt- she has been harassed for 2 years. Her children and husband are Americans, she is originally from Singapore. Meanwhile, the illegal hispanics sitting on the corner have become the new "saints". They are not touched.

This guy was probably not dealt with because he was illegal. You and me- jail time.

Double standards with Americans who put in $3 and see nothing and illegals who put in $1 and get out $3. Including free schools, food stamps, etc. Try being an American and asking for aid.

[Chief Administrator: Todd]

Is it just some coincidence that the phrase "sanctuary city" has been used in two comments, one right after the other? Looks like the right-wing talking points are working then.

Again, city officials neither have the funding nor the resources to take on the responsibility of deporting anyone. What is your evidence that the city did now report this drunk driver to the feds? I would like to see proof that the city deliberately withheld this information from the feds.

[William Salas]

This is clearly a Druck driving issue with a political agenda by Bill towards illegal immigration. Drunk drivers that kill innocent people should be punished regardsless of thier race or ethnicity. On immigration maybe we can get Bill and the Klu Klax Klan to over see the borders.

[Bo]

All this wasted typing arguing over if it is the citys or feds fault. It just goes to show that the dumbing down of America spirals down further. Look at all the people who feel content to lay back and blame the government for not doing anything about the problem or they argue over which branch is at fault. Wake up! Make all branches of government responsible. Include your state, county, city and township. Make them responsible for their inaction by voting them out. Quit voting for candidates that have nice hair or hate Bush or whom think Pelosi stinks. Start voting for those whom have a vision for this country and how to solve the problems. Become informed constituents and demand solid answers and actions. Initiate recalls of those candidates whom "change their minds" after they are elected. The reason this country is having so many unsolved problems is YOU. YOU have become apathetic and let the hogs rule the pigpen. It is time for YOU to put the coveralls on and prepare to get dirty.

[jason]

The problem is that law enforcement will not charge illegals with violations when they pull them over for some driving infraction, Most illegals do not know the local driving regulations or dismiss them because they know they will not be charged even if they do wind up going to court.They are adept at the identity game and use many false identites,which causes even more confusion, law enforcement agencies do not want to charge them because they do not want the hassle of paperwork or risk defying the local politics of cheap labor. Since little is done about enforcing driving regulations againsnt them many immigrants drive recklessly and or have no compunctions about driving under the influence.Many times the cars they drive have no registration or follow other legal requirements, the drivers themselves dont even carry legitimate driving licences. A policeman or sheriff simply turns their head the other way when they pull these guys over. Im not speaking from a Ivory tower, I work in a position that allows me to see this kind of thing happen first hand.People- you need to make your local law enforcement accountable, or you take the risk of losing one of your loved ones as well.The majority of illegals drive recklessly, I have seen the havoc they cause driving countless times, something needs to be done about this now before more lives are lost.Do something now before its too late!Its up to us, if they want to live alongside us Americans they need to take responsibilty become documented and follow the rules that we ourselves have agreed to abide by for the security of our nation.

[Matthew]

There is no question that actual enforcement of illegal immigration is the primary responsibility of the federal authorities. However, this does not exempt state and local police from their responsibility to report illegal immigrants they come in contact with to the Federal Authorities for proper enforcement. Virginia Beach Chief Jacocks' policy forbidding his officers to inquire into, or report to I.C.E., the immigration status of people they interview, except in rare and extreme circumstances, creates a shielding from detection and enforcement by any authority, including the federal government. The United States Federal Code makes it a Felony violation for any person to knowingly shield any illegal alien from detection. This is outlined in Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part VIII, Section 1324. This code also states that anyone who violates this section is subject to 5 years in prison. The code also states that if the shielding results in the death of any person, which was the case in Virginia Beach, the punishment is then Death or Life in Prison.

Here is a link to that code if you want to read it for yourself:
http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc uscview t05t08 4728 8 ( (8