OTMs: Non-Mexican migrants caught, then often released

Daily Bulletin ^ | 3/30/06 | Sara A. Carter

[NormsRevenge]

Former Tucson sector Border Patrol agent Scott James says he caught his fair share of illegal immigrants from countries other than Mexico during his years of service with the agency. Not that it really mattered, he added.

James, who resigned from the Border Patrol two months ago, said his job, like those of his colleagues, was little more than a sham. Enforcing the law was the last thing the Department of Homeland Security wanted, he said.

Some illegal immigrants apprehended on the border are from Pakistan, Iraq, China and other countries considered by the Department of Homeland Security to be "of special interest" - that is, countries with known terrorist ties.

When immigrants from these nations are apprehended by U.S. law enforcement officials, many times they are processed and released within three hours, James said.

In the past six months, 57,312 non-Mexican migrants - commonly referred to as OTMs, for "other than Mexican" - were apprehended by Border Patrol agents in the United States, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Of those, 52,644 were caught along the southern border, said Salvador Zamora, spokesman for the department.

Compared to the six-month period from October 2004 to March 2005 - when 54,207 non-Mexican migrants were arrested, 49,828 of them along the southern border - apprehensions of non-Mexican migrants is up 5.7 percent, Zamora added.

The growing number of illegal immigrants crossing the border has stirred concern among congressional and Senate leaders during the past year. Controversial programs such as the Department of Homeland Security's "catch and release" strategy - in which other-than-Mexican immigrants are released into the U.S. with an order to appear at an immigration hearing later - have long been debated as serious national security flaws.

The majority of those caught do not return for court appearances. Instead, they disappear into the U.S. and become almost impossible to trace, Bonner said.

"We understand the vulnerabilities that exist along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico," Zamora said. "When there's this type of vulnerability, the possibility of ... narcotics, people and terrorists (entering) exists."

Homeland Security Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's promise of ending the "catch and release" practice still hasn't come to fruition. The department contends that there is limited bed space and facilities to hold the non-Mexican migrants who are not able to return to their country of origin.

Many of these migrants enter the country with no documentation at all and officials can't determine where they are from, said TJ Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents about 10,000 Border Patrol agents.

"We are working to see if we can address this (issue of OTMs) through the courts," Chertoff said in March. "We're also working for prospective legislation that would address this issue and allow us to begin the process of expedited removal for all categories of non-Mexicans."

Chertoff added that the department plans to discuss other challenges, such as dealing with migrants from other parts of the world such as Asia.

James, however, questions why the "catch and release" program ever existed.

"The way they're going to end the program is by removing `catch' from the phrase," he said. "Release will be the only option."

According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, overall apprehensions - of both Mexican and non-Mexican migrants - are up 8.7 percent this year compared to the same time last year.

James said Border Patrol officials keep a tight lid on captures of immigrants from countries with ties to terrorist nations, and that the Department of Homeland Security spins the public's perception of border safety.

"I think the Border Patrol has a vested interest in making anything that reflects on the dangers of the border go away," said James, who left the Border Patrol to pursue a career in law. "What's really disturbing is that you don't know who's getting around you. It's not impossible to think that terrorists have used or will use our borders to get across."

In 2004, 644 migrants from Middle Eastern countries - including Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan - were apprehended at the border, according to Border Patrol data. The number for 2005 was similar: 649.

Since October, 205 people from Middle Eastern nations, some with terrorist ties, have been apprehended, according to the data.

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center For Immigration Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based immigration think tank, said ignoring border security to focus on a guest-worker program may have damaging future consequences.

Current legislation passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee this week to allow nearly 400,000 unskilled guest laborers into the U.S. has angered many law enforcement officials and border patrol agents, James said. He added that dealing with guest labor before national security is a backward policy.

"Immigration control at our border, our airports and elsewhere is far more important than ever before in national security," Krikorian said. "This isn't just an issue of radical Islam, but future conflicts, let's say, with countries like Korea and Colombia. From this point forward, immigration control has to be the center of any national security strategy ... leaving our border open is an invitation to attack."

But Zamora said border agents are ready.

"Border Patrol agents are the front line of defense when it comes to the war on terror," he said. "And border security has been enhanced since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks."

James, however, argued that apathy has set in among many agents.

And the increase in border violence against law enforcement officials is on the rise. In March, Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar testified at congressional hearings that violence against agents is up 108 percent since last year.

Increasing narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and attacks on agents have left many worried that they are fighting a losing battle without support, James said.

"The gung ho spirit I felt when I first entered the patrol disappeared quickly," James said. "There is no sense in stumbling around in the dark and risking your life when you know that this is just a big piece of theater and that the people you work for don't care about your life. And the ones you captured are just going to be released."

[samcgwire]

There you go! I've known many a bounty hunter and skip tracer over the years that would agree with you!

[taxed2death]

"James, who resigned from the Border Patrol two months ago, said his job, like those of his colleagues, was little more than a sham. Enforcing the law was the last thing the Department of Homeland Security wanted, he said."

Our tax dollars at work.

The buck stops WHERE?

[Supernatural]

"The buck stops WHERE"?

Harry Truman said it best. The buck stops at the desk of the President of the United States of America.

And at Congress.

So, the Republicans are in charge, are they?

The 'rats couldn't have screwed things up any worse than they are now.

[Marine Inspector]

Old news.

[yldstrk]

I guess Homeland Security figures you can walk around the desert in the US all you want. They will guard NYC and Wash DC on site. :^)

[ZULU]

Well, he did a good job in Iraq and Afghanistan, but his border policies are insane.

Maybe we should offer to annex all of Mexico, right down to the isthmus of Tehuantipec.

We get the Mexican cheap laborers, and we also get all of Mexico's mineral rights, including their oil reserves, PLUS a much narrower border to protect.

We were stuck in the first election. I voted ofr Alan Keyes in the Prrimary. I also liked Forbes. But Bush won.

Lets hope that we are not forced to make achoice between some dirtbag Democrat and somebody like McCain, or Giuliani next time around. Then I WILL vote third party.

[samcgwire]

I hate to put it to you any other way than straight forward:

You are going to be a Citizen of the North American Union if you live long enough (5-10 years, tops) and stay on what is now America soil.

You will be just another Mexnadican.

[I Drive Too Fast]

James, who resigned from the Border Patrol two months ago, said his job, like those of his colleagues, was little more than a sham. Enforcing the law was the last thing the Department of Homeland Security wanted, he said.

I think this says it all.

[little jeremiah]

Did you all see this?

[Cindy]

OPINION: Not surprising.

THANKS for the ping and link, Little Jeremiah.

[Velveeta]

Yes.

Remember this, found on the border in Hebbronville, TX in December 2004?

Patch depicting plane flying toward tower with words 'Midnight Mission'

Arabic military patch said to read 'way to immortality'

The report notes, "DHS translators concluded that the patch read, 'Defense Center,' 'Ministry of Defense,' or 'Defense Headquarters.' The bottom of the patch read 'Martyr,' 'Way to Eternal Life' or 'Way to Immortality.'"

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42579

[little jeremiah]

I remember reading about (IIRC) a backback that had a notebook with Arabic handwriting; there was a photo of it on FR two maybe three years ago on FR.

[JustPiper]

No and I am glad you caught it! Your so good to know!

[JustPiper]

BTTT for this find Norm!

[WestCoastGal]

""The gung ho spirit I felt when I first entered the patrol disappeared quickly," James said. "There is no sense in stumbling around in the dark and risking your life when you know that this is just a big piece of theater and that the people you work for don't care about your life. And the ones you captured are just going to be released."

That says it all doesn't it?

[Velveeta]

I remember that too.

[JustPiper]

that the people you work for don't care about your life

This should be sent to the Hill for they are crapping on us citizens despite the fact at least 90% of Americans are against guest worker/amnesty

[nicmarlo]

In 2004, 644 migrants from Middle Eastern countries - including Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan - were apprehended at the border, according to Border Patrol data. The number for 2005 was similar: 649.

Since October, 205 people from Middle Eastern nations, some with terrorist ties, have been apprehended, according to the data.

Have you seen this article?

FYI:

This is from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report For Congress entitled: Border Security: "Apprehensions of "Other Than Mexican" Aliens, September 22, 2005 (PDF file).

The number of OTM apprehensions remained relatively stable from 1998 to 2002, averaging almost 37,000 a year over the six-year time period. Apprehensions increased by 33% from FY2002 to FY2003, and 52% from FY2003 to FY2004. Roughly three-quarters of the way into FY2005, OTM apprehensions have increased by 58% from FY2004. Indeed, over the last three years OTM apprehensions have more than tripled, increasing by almost 220%. This trend is in stark contrast to apprehensions of Mexican aliens, which have remained relatively stable over the same period.

Breakdown of the top 25 OTM nationalities*

Country	FY2002	FY2003	FY2004	thru 7/11/2005	%Change FY02-FY05
Honduras	9316	14491	24420	36118	288%
Brazil	3100	5240	8859	27396	784%
El Salvador	7036	9602	16974	27317	288%
Guatemala	6021	7728	11628	14866	147%
Nicaragua	581	765	1460	2498	330%
Cuba	1541	1303	1406	2144	39%
China	688	576	1096	1653	140%
Ecuador	664	521	679	989	49%
Dominican Republic	1183	2057	2023	969	-18%
Costa Rica	233	382	450	700	200%
Canada	1836	1611	1497	697	-62%
Peru	312	366	370	388	24%
Colombia	347	368	335	308	-11%
India	345	316	378	235	-32%
Jamaica	287	269	215	162	-44%
Bolivia	48	59	140	161	235%
Albania	167	115	117	155	-7%
Argentina	207	252	168	138	-33%
Haiti	295	324	165	131	-56%
Poland	228	205	231	122	-46%
Romania	42	58	85	103	145%
South Korea	143	218	161	98	-31%
Pakistan	167	228	164	91	-46%
Venezuela	69	126	132	88	28%
Israel	103	109	91	68	-34%

*Source: CRS Analysis of CBP Data.