Not only illegal aliens - but most felons who are legal aliens - can be deported. Right now, INS is going from prison to prison to pick up aliens at the end of their sentences to take them home. Why not deport them right after conviction? Why should we be the prison system for the Third World - paid for by Americans?
Yes, but that might change so that the alien felons can avoid deportation after serving their sentences, according to a guest/caller on the Roger Hedgecock show last Friday, 7/26.
Last week, 7/23/02, the House Judiciary committee held a Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session where they voted for Barney Frank's "Family Reunification Act of 2001", H.R. 1452, which has this in the summary, among other things:
revise the conditions under which the Attorney General may cancel the removal of certain aliens from the United States, including cancellation of removal for humanitarian or public benefit reasons for certain aliens convicted of aggravated felonies.
While Ashcroft might be careful with granting exceptions, a future AG, perhaps under a liberal administration, might let many released felons stay in this country. We have enough home-grown felons; we don't need alien felons to stay here, too, just so they can stay with their families. They should have thought of the deportation risk before committing their crimes.
5 Republicans on the committee voted with Democrats for this bill, including Darryl Issa (North county San Diego, CA) and Committee Chairman Sensenbrenner, saying that having the AG make the decisions is better than having Congress pass private bills to grant exceptions. 15 Republicans voted against HR1452.