[Tunehead54]

"The Harlingen Immigration Court, one of 53 nationwide, incurs more no-shows than any other: 87 percent of migrants failed to appear and were ordered deported "in absentia" in fiscal 2004. There were more than 9,000 such cases at Harlingen, some involving migrants from countries with terror ties.

Nationally, that failure-to-appear rate stands at about 22 percent."

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You'd think we could at least return ALL the Mexicans to Mexico and then hold the OTMs for further processing. Even a 22% failure to appear nationally is insanity. :-(

[DoughtyOne]

I know of many political leaders in what used to be the Republic of the United States of America that I'd love to catch and let go, go back home that is!

No pensions and no donated campaign funds to follow...

[janetgreen]

This insane policy is a slap in the face to American citizens/taxpayers and the security of our country.

We have a President who has no intention of doing anything to change it, since he doesn't believe in enforcement of immigration and border laws. He has turned his back on conservative principles. He's not what we thought we elected.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Immigration enforcement is a very troubling topic.

1) Ironically, and wrongly, the anti-Bush crowd is probably waiting to pounce on any curtailment of the release practices as "racist". The political fallout WILL affect elections because immigration outrages are a voter hot button and the need to impede terrorist travel across the states was mentioned as a national security weakness in the 9/11 Commission Report. I wonder how many of these types of "outrage" stories are dem-sponsored/preplanned maneuvers to undermine the President.

2) The immediate effect on the US economy would be stifling if mass deportations were to suddenly happen.

3) There are repercussions to the desirable separation of federal and state/local government - this is one of them. Who has jurisdiction over the "in absentias" - how far should the federal government reach into state affairs?

These thoughts are mostly rhetorical musings of the moment for me.

[arnoldpalmerfan]

Thank you for posting this article.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

bttt

[Spirited]

This would change if W moved his little toe but it isn't likely to happen because the fix is in for the next election and it has to be a Dem and this will be their issue.

[StopGlobalWhining]

The rate of release is increasing. In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2001, 5,251 non-Mexicans were freed on their own recognizance from Border Patrol custody...

Releases have soared again this year. With four months still left in the fiscal cycle, 70,624 OTMs have been released on their own recognizance - or 70 percent of all non-Mexicans apprehended by the Border Patrol. That includes 50 undocumented migrants from "special-interest" countries, Border Patrol spokesman Salvador Zamora says.

Most of those arrested in the region are from Brazil, Honduras and El Salvador, though the number of Chinese is rising - from about 50 arrests in fiscal 2003 to more than 700 so far this year, according to internal Border Patrol statistics...

How many members of the notorius US-Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha are coming in illegally and set free to continue thir killing, kidnapping and drug distribution spree?

[LowNslow]

Catch and release is for fishing only.

Not illegals and other felons.