Irving says tough policy helped cut city's crime

Fort Worth Star-Telegram ^ | 1-24-2008 | PATRICK McGEE

[TexasGunLover]

IRVING -- City officials are attributing a 7 percent drop in crime from 2006 to 2007 to several police initiatives, including a rigorous program that screens everyone arrested to identify illegal immigrants and turn them over to federal authorities.

The Criminal Alien Program has led to the deportation of more than 2,000 people since it began in September 2006, and according to city officials, it has helped push down the crime rate.

"If you have another level of removal from the community, then perhaps you're not going to have at least those people to arrest again," Mayor Herbert Gears said.

Critics of the program question whether the crime drop can be attributed to CAP.

Carlos Quintanilla, an activist who has campaigned against CAP, scoffed at any suggestion that it helped reduce crime in the city of about 200,000.

"To think that crime is down because they deported 2,000 people is just crazy" he said. "The percentage of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants is minuscule."

[Renkluaf]

This MUST be discriminatory! /s

[zeugma]

"To think that crime is down because they deported 2,000 people is just crazy" he said. "The percentage of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants is minuscule."

Must be living in an alternate universe. 

[wbill]

And, of course they were deported because of their race, not because they were here illegally (strike 1), committed further crimes beyond that (strike 2) and got caught (strike 3).

I watched an "activist" on TV make the argument that illegals were getting deported because of discrimination. The fact that they're here *illegally* never crossed his tiny mind. Now - when they start deporting *LEGAL* citizens....then he's got an argument that I'll listen to.

[TexasGunLover]

It is insane to me why anyone would NOT want to deport criminals... and in these cases they're criminals to begin with who continue to commit crimes.

We live in north Irving, and it has made a small difference. Nearby Farmer's Branch is continuing to try to beat the courts and disallow illegals from renting... kudos to them too.

[joebuck]

"To think that crime is down because they deported 2,000 people is just crazy" he said. "The percentage of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants is minuscule."

Thus, your researched findings must be wrong because they conflict with my anecdotal stories.

[gubamyster]

ping

[primeval patriot]

Violent crime: Down 15.2 percent

That's a good sized drop. Just think what Irving could do if they took the gloves off.

Former longtime Irving resident here. I've hated seeing it turn into an East Dallas barrio over the past twenty years.

[TexasGunLover]

Former longtime Irving resident here. I've hated seeing it turn into an East Dallas barrio over the past twenty years.

I've been in Irving 10 years, living in Las Colinas and while it's not too bad in the north part of Irving, the encroachment of illegals seemed to be going on unabated. What this doesn't tell you is that a lot of illegals have moved away, which is helping a tremendous amount.

[primeval patriot]

I've been in Irving 10 years, living in Las Colinas and while it's not too bad in the north part of Irving, the encroachment of illegals seemed to be going on unabated.

I was there from the early seventies to the late eighties and you would not believe the how different it became with the onslaught of illegal-aliens.

Albeit I was in the "poor" South end, it was safe with almost a rural character. Teenagers didn't murder each other over girls, gangs or drugs. They do now.

It's good to see some effort being made by Farmer's Branch and Irving but I'm not too optimistic at this point.

[JohnD9207]

Imagine if every city sent them to ICE when they comitted a traffic offense
and could not prove their I.D. or country of residence??

What a Country!

[mtbopfuyn]

City officials are attributing a 7 percent drop in crime

But, but we're constantly being told this won't work because local LE can't run ID checks on illegals!!!!