Marin needs stronger presence of ICE

I am very concerned about the front-page article appearing in the IJ on Dec. 3 with the headline “Video of ICE shakes up forum.” The still images taken from the video, provided by Lucia Martel-Dow, of the Canal Alliance, portray a 19-year- old illegal immigrant being picked up by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents upon his release from the Marin County jail. He was handcuffed and taken away in an unmarked van. What is so terrible or shocking about any of that?

Supervisor Kate Sears was quoted as saying it was “appalling and shocking.” Eileen Fisher, a founder of Mill Valley Community Action Network, was quoted as saying, “This is shocking and terrible that this is happening.” Then she made a direct attack upon Marin County Sheriff Robert Doyle. Handcuffing a suspect is not necessarily a form of police brutality nor does it constitute an excessive use of force. There were probably good reasons why ICE picked up this individual and we have not been told what they are.

So many of our leaders have become soft on criminal activity. We need a stronger presence of ICE in Marin, not a weaker one. Let us not forget the case two years ago when a Hispanic teenager was allegedly murdered in Novato by two other Hispanic teens who were members of the violent, vicious MS-13 gang. We do have violent gang activity here in Marin.

It is past time for our leaders to get real about illegal immigration, support the sheriff in his efforts of law enforcement and stop attacking him relentlessly.

— Kenneth Kelzer, Novato