U.S. Steps Up Deportation Of Immigrant Criminals

[maddezmom]

Source: WaPost

By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 27, 2008; Page A01

Immigration officials are increasingly scouring jails and courts nationwide and reviewing years-old criminal records to identify deportable immigrants, efforts that have contributed to a steep rise in deportations and strained the immigration court system.

Long accused of failing to do enough to deport illegal immigrants convicted of crimes, federal authorities have recently strengthened partnerships with local corrections systems and taken other steps to monitor immigrants facing charges, officials said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, it placed 164,000 criminals in deportation proceedings, a sharp increase from the 64,000 the agency said it identified and placed in proceedings the year before. The agency estimates that the number will rise to 200,000 this year.

The heightened scrutiny, fueled by post-9/11 national security concerns and the growing debate over illegal immigration, has introduced a major element to the practice of criminal law in the Washington region and other parts of the country with large immigrant populations.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/26/AR2008022603705.html

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225 arrested in federal sweep

February 27, 2008
By MATT HANLEY Staff Writer
A 32-year-old Aurora man who has been avoiding federal deportation hearings since 2000 was one of 225 fugitives picked up in a recent nationwide sweep of illegal immigrants.

Carlos Espinoza, a Mexican native also known as Carlos Espinoza-Delgado, was arrested Saturday in his home, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE officials say the federal government started Espinoza's deportation hearings in July 1999 for entering the U.S. illegally. One year later, a federal immigration judge issued a deportation order for Espinoza, but he failed to comply, officials said.

more:http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/814220,3_1_EL27_A5ICE_S1.article



Julie L. Myers gave this worker a "most original costume" award at a DHS Halloween party. Myers said she hadn't known he was wearing makeup. (Immigration And Customs Enforcement Obtained Through A Freedom Of Information Act Request)

DHS Official Accused of Misleading
Party Photos Reveal Worker's Dark Makeup That Myers Denied Noticing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020704238.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Raskolnik]

1. I don't think it is unreasonable to deport illegal immigrants convicted of crimes

The process should, or course, be fair, but I don't think it is unreasonable per se.

[hendo]

2. nor do I (nt)