Posted on 04/08/2007 11:41:42 AM PDT by VU4G10
SAN DIEGO -- More than one-third of 18,000 people arrested in a nearly yearlong federal crackdown on illegal immigrants were not the people authorities targeted, according to government figures.
The so-called "collateral arrests" involved people picked up by immigration agents while seeking fugitives such as drug smugglers, thieves, drunken drivers and others who flouted deportation orders.
When tracking down fugitives, authorities visit a suspect's last known address and often find other immigrants, who are then asked to prove they are legally entitled to live in the United States.
Supporters of such tactics say the government is just doing its job after years of neglect.
"God bless 'em,"' said Peter Nunez, a former U.S. attorney in San Diego who teaches immigration policy at the University of San Diego. "They apparently decided to start with these fugitives. If you're going to find one (illegal immigrant), you're going to find 100."
Critics say the campaign against fugitive illegal immigrants ensnares many hard-working people who are in the country illegally but do not pose a danger.
"They're trying to sell it as something where they target (criminals) but it's become part of a larger dragnet," said Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee's office in San Diego.
Dubbed "Operation Return to Sender," the crackdown began last May in cities across the nation. As of Feb. 23, it has resulted in 18,149 arrests of suspected illegal immigrants, most of whom were captured at home and in Hispanic neighborhoods.
But, according to figures from Immigration and Custom Enforcement, 37 percent of those cases, or 6,696 arrests, were "collateral" captives _ people who just happened to be present when agents arrived. Such arrests account for more than half the total in four cities: Dallas and El Paso, Texas (59 percent); New York (54 percent); and San Diego (57 percent).
On Tuesday, ICE completed a two-week sting that targeted 300 fugitives in San Diego. Agents found 62 fugitives but took 297 other people into custody, bringing the total arrests to 359. The illegal immigrants were returned to their home countries or jailed while awaiting a court hearing.
The government defends the collateral arrests.
"We can't look the other way," said Robin Baker, ICE's director of detention and removals in San Diego. "We did that for too long." The agency's guidelines are to make arrests in houses, not in the streets, Baker said, adding that agents do not randomly search communities for illegal immigrants.
For some, the stings evoke memories of immigration raids that fell out of favor in the 1980s. Since then, immigration authorities have stayed close to U.S. borders but are increasingly venturing into homes and workplaces across the country.
"It didn't happen for a good 15 years," Baker said. "Now that it's opening up again, people don't like it. They got used to us not being there."
Rumor has it that here in NC we do. If true, it's pathetic.
Not too tough to do when you are surrounded by 30 Million of them.
God bless them `lil criminal illegal alien border law violators! They are all so cute when they are blowing out anchor babies and standing in the social security lines!
And the problem with this is??? What part of illegal do these "critics" not understand?
Paul
Uh, people working for BUSH are the ones doing the raiding.
There are stories about a guy bailing out the Titanic with a coffee can.
Too little too late didn’t work then and won’t work now.
Bottom line? "Critics" aren't in a position to definitively know if there is a danger or not.
Wild overexaggerations don’t help arguments very much and, in fact, tend to undermine them. Your’s is no different.
Old canard. His birth name is Gerald Michael Rivera.
Either prove me wrong or justshutupandtakeit.
The truth usually goes both ways except for the OBL. The OBL are liars.
Period.
Do you mean "not to" or do you support the invasion?
Proving wild exaggerations wrong is not necessary since their falsity is self-evident.
What does Osama have to do with anything.
Apparently he is your friend as are the illegals due to your support of them.
Your screen name clearly displays your arrogance of ignorance.
Perhaps you should consider changing it to something more appropriate or go so far as to use your real name.
No, you won’t do that.
Yes
So one NOT being hysterical and willing to overexaggerate an issue is bad? LoL ok keep on raving there and driving people away from any real legitimate concern you have. It isn’t MY problem.
No, your problems run much deeper.
Please be a solid American or justshutup.
You are useless here.
Conservatives don’t want you and the liberal scum need you.
Go away. Join them and continue to post your tripe somewhere else.
Thanks for the ping....score another point (18,000 actually) for the Good Guys!!!
I want to hear about stings like this all across the area of the border.
Good stuff!
If you're not emotionally out of control, you belong with 'liberal scum.'
Makes perfect sense to me. LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.