If Benavidez, a criminal who has been deported for being in this country illegally, why was he let go back in May? Has Utah become a sanctuary state?

Benavidez and been caught a let go more times than a trout in a fly fishing contest. Give me a break, is Utah law enforcement really that big a bunch of push overs. So how long till you let him go this time, two months!.

We need more enforcers, plain & simple. They should have the same demeanor as "Dog-the bounty hunter" instead of trying to figure out how to pass "Rocket Science 101."

Plea deals and judges going thru the motions made this horrible thing happen. If judges would have a spine and give hard time for hard crimes which he already did, he would have been an old man when he got out, instead, 142 days in jail for all those crimes noted above in the article. Then send him back south so he can come back with a vengence!

Thank goodness you voters sent a strong message to your politicians that you do not want to fool around with these illegals. Thanks for throwing the bum out of office that was soft on immigration. I wish we would do it in our state.

GET TOUGH WITH BENAVIDEZ!!! Stop playing this game of plea bargaining and charge dismissals with this career criminal! Apparently he needs the book thrown at him cause he doesn't care who he hurts. Don't deport him again - throw him in prison and toss the key out. And don't be leniant on those 16 yr olds cause of their ages - GET TOUGH WITH THEM TOO! They need to be off the streets permanantly!

There are thousands of Asians, Africans, Europeans and others who want to come to this country legally, and who are willing to fill out the paperwork and stand in line for the chance. It just makes my blood boil when people sneak in illegally, and then disrespect our laws like it was business as usual. This is another classic example. When are we going to shut down that southern border, make them fill out the paperwork and stand in line for their turn, like potential immigrants from all other parts of the world have to?

There were many comments on this yesterday on KSL.com. If you're interested, you might read them. Utah is a sanctuary state. People like Chris Cannon don't help. He's gone now and replaced by (one can hope) somebody who'll enforce our laws rigorously and get punks like these off the streets and in jails or the graveyard.

Mitt Romney would have deported this guy long ago!
Let's hope our next President will do something about this whole Border issue and clean up the U.S.

Professor:
Of course Utah is a sanctuary state and Salt Lake City is a sanctuary city.

The only sensible response to this incident is to quickly convict and execute the person who pulled the trigger and lock up the rest of them for life without the possibility of parole.

Punishment is the ONLY deterrent that works and the more severe the punishment, the greater the deterrent. The criminal use of a firearm that results in the death of a human being should be earn the person a quick trip to the Other Side.

Of course, all of the illegal aliens involved and any legal citizen criminials will be pampered and given wrist slaps. "Society", "racism", "poverty" and "the injustice of the system" will be blamed for killing Mari because liberals (all Democrats and the majority of Republicans) control the city, county, state and country.

Be assured, this type of crime will increase because potential criminals will see that the punishment is bearable.

Of course, illegal aliens already know that "deportation" means "a free trip home on the dime of the law-abiding U.S. citizens". A quick name change and they're right back shootin' up our streets.

This was a gang related drive by that resulted in the death of an innocent girl. The gang members, on both sides, are responsible, they need to be held accountable. We need to quit toletating gang activity and turn in all illegal activity by ALL gang members, regardless of whether they are family or friends. Until we do, this kind of crime will continue.

The time has come to get rid of illegal aliens. No more talk, no more excuses. You are either with us or against us. Choose for yourself.

Charges were dropped in 2006 because the victim disappeared? The gangbangers "Homies" aided with the disappearance. The victim was probably given an Italian necktie and buried in the west desert.

Stinks of terrorism to me folks. Why do we tolerate them? Gangbangers in MS-13, Crips, Bloods, and whatever are no different than Al Quaeda except that they have far exceeded Al Quaeda's killing record and far exceeded AL Quaeda's terror on America. GANGBANGER = TERRORIST, TERRORIST = GANGBANGER

It seems as if all the USA is a sanctuary. I grew up in an area like this (Ogden). There were gang issues all the time. Our schools "cautioned" us about joining a gang. We need to better educate our youth about gangs and we need to become very hard on gang members. Our courts do NOT protect us. We should VOTE NO ON ALL JUDGES and send a message to our judicial system that we are tired of the way they judge. Gang members walk into our court rooms with attitudes. They should be made to render immediate respect. Once they are allowed to act this way then they know they have won already. They should be placed in a military prison not a civil prison.

I carry because of terroristic activities of gangs in my state. I have four children, served in the Marines, work as an engineer, and I carry handguns because when seconds count the police will be there in minutes.

I had the same exact question.

Children join gangs because they have absent fathers.

Close the borders and deport all the illegals. Vote only for politicans and judges who will enforce the law.

Let's make it impossible for illegals to live here.
1. Require proof of legal status to get a job, rent or buy housing, open a bank account or cash a check. (Limit the cash a check part to 3 months so as not to irritate the rest of us too bad.)
2. Offer a $10,000 reward to any illegal alien who turns in their boss and fine the employer $15,000 to pay for it.
3. End the anchor baby problem by adopting a policy not to deport citizens. Is an illegal has a baby in the US, the illegals get deported and the baby stays and gets put up for adoption. The only way they can keep the baby is if the parents renounce the child's citizenship.

Just do it!

Terrorism in Salt Lake City! Why? Why?

Folks, we need more compassion. Yes, compassion for all of these illegals. They are good people who do good things. Of course some are gang-bangers, but we love them, too.

What a crock!

This tragedy is the result of a distorted and self-serving view on illegals. Thank goodness our attorney general and other leaders recognize polygamists (not illegals) pose the greater threat to our okay state and community.

Sounds like the little girl's family is part of the problem. If you want to get hard on gangs, you need to be hard on the people that tolerate them. This little girl paid for her family allowing gangs to exist.

Too bad the citizen gun laws in Utah didn't result in a carload of dead gang bangers. That would have been real justice for this meaningless and grossly stupid crime.

Has the D-news joined with the Arizona Republic in refusing to use the word "illegal"? The article barely hinted that Benavidez was here illegally. What about the others in the car. Legal or illegal?

It's time to close the borders and keep these criminals/terrorists out of our country.

Don't expect McCain or Obama to do the job. They both want the hispanic vote more than they want safety for U.S. citizens.

Close the borders now. Then deport all the petty criminals before they do something like this. Then streamline the guest-worker programs so good people can come here legally to work.

That guy who killed those puppies by throwing them in a garbage can will serve more time that these creeps, I will bet on it!!!

The incident may have been deterred if the family of the little girl did not participate in the gang activity. They automatically put their family at risk.
As for the driver in the SUV and the others they should get life in prison.

This is an outrage! This fellow should not have been here at all! I have two Mexican sons-in-law who are nothing like Benavidez. They work and support their families and they are here legally!
Why do we tolerate the punks who make life a living hell for so many people?

I find it amazing that people think that all crime will cease if illegals are gone. Like US citizens don't committ crimes???? Give me break.

Just remember there is a big difference between these thugs and most illegal immigrants. Most come here to be able to provide for their families and commit no crimes worse than crossing the border. We need to allow those who are just here working, helping our economy to be able to pay a fine and taxes and normalize their citizenship if they have no criminal record. Then, instead of arresting nannies and cooks in raids, we can focus and arresting these thugs who don't register, pay a fine and just work. For every against what you call amnesty (which it's not because their is a punishment) this is the very reason we need it! So we can focus on these guys.

It was the Amnesty during Reagan's term that brought these problems on. The Democrat congress promised that if we just "normalized" those illegals here, they would secure the border. Well, we can see the value of such promises. And while many illegal aliens are otherwise decent, hardworking people, they place familial, ethnic, other ties WAY above loyalty to this nation, our laws, or culture. And that doesn't change when you all them to vote legally. Illegal aliens are able to be in such large numbers PARTLY because so many others of hispanic descent are willing to help them, shelter them, and otherwise violate our laws.

Secure the border NOW. Vigorously enforce our laws against all who come to the attention of law enforcement.

THEN, in 20 or 30 years, we can talk about what to do with the very small number of illegal aliens who are not guilty of other, additional crimes.

Put another way, last time we did amnesty first and never got the fence. This time, the fence FIRST. THEN we can discuss amnesty.

Amnesty was tried back in the 80s. As you can see, we seem to still have an illegal problem. Ignoring the problem doesn't seem to work. Maybe shutting the border and going after employers would do it. You know, like what Arizona is doing. And what Utah should do, but won't.

Of course Utah is a sanctuary state, especially SLC. During the legislative session you should have heard the SLC Chief of police Burbank beg a House committee to not make more restrictive laws concerning the enforcement of ID theft and fraud. He also begged them to NOT support the creation of 287g trained sheriff deputies that would check the immigration status of those arrested by police and booked into jail.

The state had no plans to make this program mandatory on communities, but Chief Burbank said that it would cause people to fear his police since illegal aliens included all police together. He said that it would cause too much fear among the illegal community, and cause the people to fear his police and not report crime.

We'll here is the the result of Chief Burbank's non-enforcement of the law. Benavidez, walks the streets and was only deported instead of prison in spite of multiple felonies. He is back across the border in a short time and actually returns to SLC, because he had learned of the non-enforcement policies of this sanctuary city. SLC police policies need to be re-examined and a new chief hired.

First, I want to give my sympathy to the Parents of the little girl, my hearth go with you. I can assure you that she is in a very special place now. And may the Lord will comfort your family in this hard time.
And be sure that this crime won't go away without being taking care by our Police force.

Re:Anom,
Utah never had the crime it has now before the illegals came here. It once was a peaceful place to live, and that is the truth. We are all tired of the murders and crime that these people have brought here.

Didn't the whole family have guns to protect themselves?

Oh - illegals trumps packing in this story?

It is time we close the borders securely,Police not having to worry about profiling. Deport all illegals no matter what country. If you use a gun in a crime like this it should constitute an automatic death penalty. I have good friends that live in Glendale...I think if they know their kids are involved in gang activity,,,,turn them in. It is time we take control of our Families, Homes, Neighborhoods, Cities, and Country.

Politicians care more about illegal aliens than their own citizens. Time for change?

many illegals come here to work and they work hard and the problem is not with them directly. The real problem is that their children and others from their communities back home see that US law is to be ignored and law enforcement officers shunned. They become part of a lower-class underworld. While their parents, for the most part, would not dream of commiting violent crimes, they have no such compunctions.

I realize that calls for land mines along the border would be seen as ridiculously extreme, but how about stink bombs that, if tripped, would dowse the illegal in skunk oil? That might serve as a deterrent and at least make illegals easier to pick out of a crowd.

now the real taxpayers will pay for the trial and the cot -3sqs. a day for this thug ...secure the borders...doesn't matter if they come here to work...still here illegal...act like they own the place as it is ..some are even starting businesses on the west side financed illegally ..some with drug and thug...ship em all back now!! no negotiations what so ever. or we will pay the price..the heck with amnesty!

I think that we should just round up all gang members and put them on a desert island with no possible escape. That way we can just say "have at it". They would knock each other off and we would be done with them. Unfortunately that is just wishful thinking.

I am truly sorry for the family's senseless loss. I agree with the posters that more strict laws have to be in force to deal with these thugs. Problem is the teenagers who are in these gangs are usually the offspring of illegals. I agree, they should get the death penalty, but we all know it won't happen.

On the other hand, as far as illegal immigration, I work with some of the "brown people" (their words, not mine) and I've had conversations ad nauseum about illegals. They totally support them with their arguments of "they are only looking for a better life". When it comes right down to it, the problem is race, not politics or nationality. They are a certain race and that trumps any loyalty to country, community, or anything else. Those I work with are upstanding citizens, but throw around their ethnicity, and have made it known in no uncertain terms they are to be dealt with with kid gloves, and can do no wrong, otherwise there would be a discrimination suit. We're lucky if they're in the office 20 hours a week compared to the rest of us at 40+ and doing their work.

I like your way of thinking. We have a huge west desert that could be fenced off. It works for the jail system in Arizona where prisoners are treated no better than our troops.

I really like that idea, and it's something maybe our legislators should look at. It would be alot cheaper than supporting them in jail, and would make our streets alot safer.

Of course, the probably wouldn't knock each other off. They souldn't have an inocent bystander in the middle they can take out. You know the old saying "honor amongst theives". They're all a bunch of cowardly creeps, and I'm sure if they do knock another banger off, it's just a random shot that didn't get some innocent person. Obviously they can't hit the side of a barn. How do you hit a small child? Of course, he did make the comment he was going to kill the other banger's family. Came through with that, didn't he?

Th state of Utah is culpable for setting this thug free. Let the politicians express grief, it is all for show. If they really cared they would act accordingly.

I can't believe how much crime this creep committed and was able to get away with. Judges need to throw the book at criminals. I sat in a SLC court with my daughter who is a criminal justice major, for a class project, and hour after hour DUI after DUI and not one of them got the maximum or close to it, not even repeat offenders. Why why why are judges so lenient?

When are the rest of the politicians in this state going to get the "Cannon" message? We are fed up with this nonsense. We need to start going after illegals wherever they are and that includes the workplace, neighborhoods, jails, and any other place they are to be found. They then need to be ARRESTED and DEPORTED. They then need to be told that if they ever come back its going to be five years in prison. The life of even one more child is way too high a price to pay for McDonalds to get cheap labor subsidized by the taxpayers.

We need comprehensive enforcement not reform!!!!

It is tragic when a young girl is murdered at the hands of her "family's" (blood-related & "homie") enemies. Thankfully, gangs regularly only take on each other. Unfortunately, innocent bystanders sometimes die. Seeing the results on children every day in the school where I work, I am pleased to read so many of these posts; this readership truly understands the problem. Do not be dissuaded when "racist" and "incompassionate" are thrown out by these law-breakers. It is an erroneous and malicious attempt to sidestep the true problem.

It is a shame that an innocent child's death means nothing more than an excuse for political bickering and finger pointing. What if it was your child?

Why do so many of you continue to excuse people who are here "illegally" with comments like "most of them are good hard working people, and those that are criminals, are only a small number"? I wouldn't care if it was Mother Terresa! They have broken our laws - they are here illegally!

No excuses! No special considerations! THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!! Why don't you get that?

Ship them ALL back and lock down the boarders NOW!

I'm sorry for the little girls death.

It is amazing how some people just find any article no matter about what, to go off about illegal aliens instead of making a nice/good comment about the article that has been read.

you people make me sick.

Very sad for the little girl and her family.

The guys who killed her need to be sent back to Mexico. American citizens do not need to pay their bills and we do not need their gangs trashing Utah. I'm so fed-up of reading about the crimes and murders these people commit- Enough is enough!!!

Im not quite sure what can be said that is nice/good about the article.

It's nice that they caught a murderer.
It's good that he is in jail.

Thats about all I can think of that is nice/good about murder.

As far as the citizens of the United States complaining about illegal aliens, clearly it should be done a lot more so we are finally listened to.

How many legal citizens will die at the hands of illegal aliens before something will be done.

If one murder can be stopped by keeping illegals out of this country then it is worth it.