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."
I’m with you. When I said the “wall” I didn’t mean part of a wall. The entire 2,000 miles. The concept of a partial wall would be like buying a new car with no engine and transmission. It ain’t gonna work.
I don’t hate the illegals, got too much sympathy for them. I’m 100% unhappy with Bush’s support for them, and his amnesty plans, even the $3500/year permit thing. I understand why they’re doing it, and I can’t blame them. I don’t understand why he’s doing it, and I do blame him. He could at least explain how he thinks that allowing millions of illegals to stay is helping this country. I’m a teacher in a school with an 80% Hispanic population, and probably 80% of that is illegal. I don’t blame them for wanting to be here, but breaking our law to do it is a really bad start. We spend about $8k/student in the district. That money should be going for kids who actually belong here.
Funny thing, all the kids I’ve talked to about it think that Bush is trying to get them thrown out of the country, and they’re apparently getting that idea from their parents.
At this rate, our unauthorized visitors will be removed in about 100 years.
For your viewing "ROFLMAO" pleasure.
W is a good man, but there is something about his compassion for illegal immigrants. The last time I looked, enforcing the law was not something that is subjective.
(Shhhh... now don't nudge me into the courts deciding guilt or innocence of illegals... we'll be here forever)
You keep repeating yourself, and these re-runs are always complaints, never compliments.
Non-stop attacking President Bush isn’t doing conservatives or America any favors...but it is precisely what I would expect a troll to do.
I hear what you are saying, but living in San Diego, the size of the state of Conn. with over 3 million people and over 1 million Mexicans and tens of thousands of illegals.
Our southern border runs along Mexico and the border between San Diego and Mexico is the largest and busiest in the world.
It is costing us here multi millions of dollars for their health care, education, etc. and dealing with their crime.
Our way of life as Americans is gone.
Bull! Posing as an American citizen or legal alien denies real American citizens and real legal aliens jobs and lower taxes they might otherwise have.
The open borders lobby wants us to neglect the real victims because they imagine their imagined victims to be more equal than the legal victims.
That's enough for me. Sc*ew the critics (who are probably illegal themselves).
It is hard defending the indefensible, isn't it?
Why not respond to my question? Are those in the House an Senate who have publically condemned bush for wanting to grant amnesty to these lawbreakers trolls also?
“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.”
This can not be. I have heard over and over and over again that Bush has done nothing about our borders or about illegal immigration.
Those politicians aren’t here on FR posting non-stop Bush-bashing.
In contrast, you are.
You know, it’s one thing to criticize a mistake or debate a disagreement...it’s an entirely different thing to bash someone non-stop.
Even if you are not a troll, you illustrate a woeful grasp of real-world politics.
Because Quakers traditionally oppose violence in all of its forms and therefore refuse to serve in the military, the AFSC's original mission was to provide conscientious objectors (COs) to war with a constructive alternative to military service.
In 1955, the Committee published the most important statement of pacifism ever produced in the United States, "Speak Truth to Power:
The AFSC also has worked extensively as part of the peace movement, especially work to stop the production and deployment of nuclear weapons.
For its anti-war and anti-capital punishment stance, the AFSC receives criticism from many socially conservative groups. Also, throughout much of the group's history the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has monitored the work of the organization.
Recognizing that most conflicts have their roots in injustice, the Quaker organization has been long concerned with eliminating such injustice at home. This has led to a long history of involvement with the American Indian, the Mexican-American, the migrant worker, the prisoner, the black, the poor. The AFSC's approach is to help these people find the tools with which to organize themselves for community action and thus obtain the better schools, better housing, better working conditions they deserve.
By means of speaking tours, by publication of peace literature, through a campaign to end the draft, through its own vigils and participation in demonstrations and protests sponsored by others, the Committee works to arouse Americans against the dangers of increasing militarism and to inform them of the status of the military-industrial complex in the United States.
******
Mary Ellen McNish was appointed the general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee by its Board of Directors in June of 2000.
A former chief operating officer of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Mary Ellen spent thirteen years as an educator with public school districts and Head Start programs.
******
Maureen Shea is the Director of Government Relations for The Episcopal Church. From 1997-2001 she was Special Assistant to the President and was in charge of outreach to the religious community in President Clintons Office of Public Liaison. Maureen was Chief of Staff at People For the American Way and its Foundation, lobbying director at Common Cause and the first director of the Womens Campaign Fund.
Of course not. They are to be commended. And Bush's positives in the WOT do not earn him a pass for serious errors in judgment on such issues as illegals. I personally feel that Bush and every other politician that is a proponent of the WOT should be called to explain why they don't see the flood of illegals as one of the other fronts in this war that should be faced and dealt with aggressively.
I also believe that, if serious steps are not taken soon, in another 10 years the threat of domestic terrorism will be greater from illegal Mexican militants than from Islamics.
25 million illegals will be in a very strong position to blackmail this country with threats (and acts) of violence. Notice how intimidated law enforcement was by 1/2 million illegals protesting?
Pedro Rios is director of the San Diego Area Office of the American Friends Service Committee.
"Its unfortunate that much of the debate over immigration reform has centered on national security issues as framed through the lens of the war-on-terror. Rather than promote policies that uplift human rights and dignity as core principles to dealing with the immigration phenomenon, policymakers on both sides of the aisle have settled on a misguided common denominator that resemble facile knee-jerk responses - the fixation on constructing miles of border fence and increased militarization, for example - that do little to deal with the roots of immigration."
"policymakers should focus on real national security concerns, like the impact that neoliberal economic agreements (NAFTA et al.) have on the ability for people to live sustainable lives in Mexico, the United States, and elsewhere. This agenda, more than anything else, is the real culprit in creating conditions for people to migrate and become more vulnerable. Real community security, where people can live sustainable lives, necessitates a reframing of the question over national security so that it focuses on human dignity as a principle value for structuring social, political, and economic regimes."
No nudge......no nukes : )
I was just allowing for the fct that I don’t know if some states license illegals to drive.
18K Down....
12.9 MILLION to go....!!!
Exactly.
That would have caused some consternation for the ragheads. Don't you think? LOL
Yeah, all kinds of consternation : )
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