Posted on 08/28/2005 12:48:11 PM PDT by dennisw
A man who has been deported sneaks back into the country to rejoin his family, get a better job or run a drug operation. The minute he re-enters the United States, he's committed a federal felony.
The Cost Of Deterrence
In 2000, 50% of immigration offenders had been charged with illegally re-entering the United States. The 2000 figure is the most recent available. Immigration prosecutions have dramatically increased since then, and illegal re-entry still constitutes about 50% of immigration prosecutions. As of July 30, there were just more than 19,000 federal inmates whose most serious convictions were for immigration offenses, though some also may have been charged with lesser offenses. So, one could estimate that 9,500 inmates were in prison on July 30 for illegal re-entry. That number likely holds fairly constant throughout the year. At an average incarceration cost of $23,000 per year for each of those 9,500 inmates, the approximate annual cost of imprisoning illegal re-entry defendants is $218.5 million.
If he's caught near the Mexican border, he could plea bargain down to a two-year prison term, or even avoid incarceration altogether.
If he's caught in Wisconsin, he could easily be sentenced to five years.
Nationwide and in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the number of people charged with the federal crime known as "illegal re-entry after deportation" has increased exponentially since 2001. For the 12-month period ending Sept. 30 of that year, there were just two people charged with the crime in Wisconsin's Eastern District, which includes Milwaukee. For the same period last year, 35 people were charged here, an increase of more than 1600%.
Many offenders are not caught until they end up in state prisons, convicted of some other crime. Although the crackdown is a direct result of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, the overwhelming majority of those prosecuted are Mexican nationals with no ties to terrorist organizations or countries.
Proponents say sending offenders to federal prison before forcing them out of the country again makes them think twice about coming back once they're released. It is also a way to make sure foreign criminals are accounted for, they say. Someone in prison is no longer committing crimes here, the logic goes, whereas a criminal immediately deported could sneak back into the U.S. and quickly resume his illegal activities.
Critics question the effectiveness of the approach, since recidivism rates are impossible to track. They point out that many illegal re-entrants who get long sentences because of past criminal records aren't dangerous. Perhaps, critics say, tighter controls over U.S. borders would be a better use of millions of taxpayer dollars than incarceration.
full article---->>> http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/aug05/351518.asp
* ahem *
This headline is incomprehesible. A Babblefish translation?
Executing them (like burglars shot by the homeowner) would be both cheaper and provide the much needed deterrent.
I wish our courts agreed with you.
While we need a more secure border, we need interior enforcement even more. Right now the border is a gauntlet......... run it and you're generally home-free.
No, too harsh. However I believe after a fair trial, take those that are convicted and fly them south of the border strap em into a parachute and drop them in the most remote and inhospitable area of Mexico with a bottle of water and a Snickers Bar.
Then lets see if all those folks want to try and sneak in after being caught once.
Oooooh, bet all illegals are just shaking in their boots.
Thanks for posting this one, D.W.
"In 2000, 50% of immigration offenders had been charged with illegally re-entering the United States."
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The reason for this is our government's inaction in providing ample deportation authorities across the country proves they condone the illegal alien invasion.
Case in point:
Though North Carolina has an estimated 300,000 illegal immigrants, the state has one federal deportation officer who's among fewer than 10 people in the state who work for Detention and Removal Operations, a unit of ICE.
The Constitution applies to all people in the United States, not just citizens.
Millions?
What's a bullet cost, 80c?
F'ing BILL ME!
Not sure about exact figures, but think someone mentioned 8 billion to build a good, effective wall versus 20 billion a year that we spend on average each year on our Mexican "guests". If we built the wall next year, by 2007 we'd be 12 billion ahead.
I know, I'm talking sense. I'll stop.
Given the unprecedented number of illegals in our prison system, much less how unrivaled our prison system is in size, do you really want to pay Turkey or some place in Africa all that money to stash illegals, both drug runners and professional tomato pickers? The fact remains that the U.S. is a big market for cheap labor and drugs, and prisons are a growth industry as well (along with the revolving door policy of early parole for murderers, sex offenders, etc). Ah, nevermind. Just line the southern border with a lead concrete wall 1 mile wide and 500 feet deep with machine gun nests stationed every 20 yards or so, manned 24/7 by the rank and file of the TSA. That'll fix it!
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