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N.C. counties use federal anti-crime program to target Latinos for deportation

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Published on Friday, 12 December 2008 12:04

For many Latinos in North Carolina, the difference between crime victim and criminal is the flick of a deputy’s pen.

Nobody knows that better than Jorge and Jose Segura-Rios.

The two immigrant brothers from Mexico awoke at 2:50 a.m. on Sept. 16, when a group of burglars demanding cash broke into their Knightdale house and beat the brothers with handguns and an assault rifle.

The burglars escaped out the back as Wake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a panicked 911 call from the house.

The deputies interviewed the victims and left.

Days later, Jorge and Jose were arrested. Jose was charged with common-law uttering after investigators determined he gave them false identification. Jorge, who provided his real name, was taken into custody because of his immigration status. He was quickly deported.