Immigrants facing criminal charges -- Prosecutions set record in March

News Observer ^ | Julia Preston

[3AngelaD]

Criminal prosecutions of immigrants by U.S. authorities surged to a record high in March, according to a report published by a nonpartisan research group. Immigration cases accounted for the majority -- 57 percent -- of all new federal criminal cases brought nationwide that month, the report said. Immigration cases also made up more than half of new federal prosecutions in February, reflecting a major emphasis on immigration by the Bush administration and a policy shift to expand the use of criminal, rather than civil, charges in its efforts to curb illegal immigration.

In March...narcotics cases, the next-largest category, were 13 percent of new prosecutions...

The record number of 9,350 new immigration prosecutions in March was part of a "highly unusual surge" that began in January, the report said, and represented 73 percent more new immigration cases compared with March 2007. Most cases were in districts along the border with Mexico and were part of a rapidly expanding program by the Border Patrol and the Justice Department to press criminal charges against virtually all immigrants caught crossing the border illegally in some sectors. In a crackdown that has accelerated since last June...the administration has sought to show it is serious about enforcing immigration laws. In a new strategy, the authorities have brought an array of criminal charges against illegal immigrants stopped at the border or rounded up in raids at workplaces. Previously, illegal immigrants were generally charged under immigration law with civil violations, not criminal ones....

...

[EagleUSA]

And our borders basically remain WIDE OPEN! I guess this is just “job security” for our court systems and lawyers....as well as prison guards, etc.

The beat goes on.

[skeeter]

The approach the administration is taking to deal with the problem is clear - focus on serious crime & the public outcry will fade.

Unfortunately it will fail unless the root of the problem is addressed. The mindset of illegals is outside the law.

[sheana]

Well when I see illegals running scared in my area I will believe they are serious. We are overrrun and at the grocery store yesterday they were still running over me with their carts and 9 children. (the 9 children part is true)

[skeeter]

The police typically set up a radar trap across the street from a usual mob of illegals outside a local Home Depot here & the illegals could care less.

The local politicians won't let the police touch 'em, and they know it.

[TKDietz]

This is better than catch and release. Eventually this sort of thing will deter some people from coming over, not the real criminal types, but it’s going to deter people afraid of going to jail.

[EagleUSA]

The mindset of illegals is outside the law.
::::::
And so is the mindset of the government.

[Irish Eyes]

Title is missing one very important word....ILLEGAL

[WOBBLY BOB]

Another surge that’s working and won’t be talked about in the MSM.

[tvdog12345]

Yeah, the word “illegal” in “illegal immigrant” seems to have mysteriously disappeared of late in mainstream media reports.

[gubamyster]

ping