Gangs in Montgomery Co. worry Frederick Co. sheriff

FREDERICK, Md. - After two armed robberies by gang members in Frederick County, Sheriff Chuck Jenkins says Frederick County is seeing the effects of what happens in Montgomery County.

"I believe that the policies of Montgomery County are beginning to affect Frederick County," Jenkins tells The Examiner.

The suspects in the armed robberies -- three teens and a 20-year-old -- are believed to be members of a street gang that is known to have illegal immigrants as members.

The two counties have very different procedures to check the immigration status of suspects. Montgomery County Police are only allowed to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement when a suspect uses a firearm or commits a violent crime. Frederick County's Sheriff considers an arrest sufficient cause to contact ICE.

The most recent gang assessment by the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force said anecdotal evidence suggests that crackdowns on illegal immigrants, combined with other law enforcement efforts, are driving gangs out of Northern Virginia and into Maryland and the District. More than 40 percent of the gang members arrested by the task force between 2003 and 2008 were charged with an ICE violation, the study finds.

Jenkins wants to keep the pressure on in Maryland.

Frederick County processed nearly 300 criminal charges through a federal immigration program last year. Nearly half of those charged were driving without a valid license.

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, a Republican, tells The Frederick News-Post he does not consider driving without a license a minor offense. He wants to see local jurisdictions have broad discretion in immigration enforcement.

The Latino and immigrant advocate organization CASA tells The Examiner that Jenkins is trying to "stoke fear" about illegal immigrants. Kerry O'Brien, CASA's director of services, blames recent gang violence in Frederick County on the county's increased urbanization rather than Montgomery County immigration policies.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)