Mass deportations coming for jailed illegal immigrants

[Mugu]

By JAMES PINKERTON, chron.com

The U.S. Homeland Security department has launched an ambitious nationwide effort that would cost $2 billion to $3 billion a year to identify and deport the estimated 300,000 to 450,000 illegal immigrants locked up each year in jails and prisons.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation was denounced by immigrant rights groups and received cautiously by those favoring tighter enforcement.

''We can do something few law enforcement agencies can do: Not only ensure criminals are off the streets, but ensure they are removed from the country," said ICE spokesman Tim Counts. ''Removing hundreds of thousands of criminals from the country is sure to have a positive impact on community safety."

snip

The recently announced ICE effort, known as "Secure Communities," will upgrade computer technology in jails and allow local jailers to access ICE's fingerprint database to quickly identify prisoners with immigration violations as they are booked. The $200 million in funding already allocated for the program this year would also add an unspecified number of ICE detention and removal officers, Counts confirmed.


Complete article at:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5688925.html

[Lance_Boyle]

1. They don't already do that?

Why in the world would a city or state choose to feed, clothe and shelter a criminal illegal alien? Deportation makes sense. I thought it was already the norm.

[TCJ70]

2. They do, but...

...I think they do it on a case by case basis. This seems to be more of a generalized, mass deportation.

[Bobbieo]

4. I'm surprised they are not recruiting the eligible males into the army!!

[BlooInBloo]

12. They are. They're even going into Tijuana/Juarez, etc. and "recruiting".

[kestrel91316]

9. Nope. Until recently they just released them onto the street.

I am 100% in favor of immediate deportation when their time in jail is up. It's bad enough they cross the border illegally. Then they don't respect our laws and victimize others. Boot 'em out.

[damntexdem]

11. Nothing here about being convicted, just being in jail.

[EFerrari]

14. That's even worse! Why are they filling our jails with their illegal innocence.

They should be immediately deported for being in jail without being guilty!

lol

:)

[kestrel91316]

15. Well, one can't serve a jail sentence without being convicted, last I heard.

Being held and then released without charges, or held and then found not guilty, isn't the issue here.

But I suspect you knew that.

[EFerrari]

17. The screening takes place at the BOOKING not at the CONVICTION.

"The recently announced ICE effort, known as "Secure Communities," will upgrade computer technology in jails and allow local jailers to access ICE's fingerprint database to quickly identify prisoners with immigration violations as they are booked."

And there goes that quaint presumption of innocence!

[slackmaster]

3. If those people are not sent to jail in their home countries, won't they just come back?

I like the idea of not spending US resources incarcerating foreign criminals, but this plan sounds likely to backfire.

[TCJ70]

5. That does happen sometimes...

...I know of one person that did that. They were deported twice, I believe.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

6. This could be sensible..

Lets look at the math..

at 22K per person per year in prison were talking about saving 8-10 *Billion* a year for spending 2-3 Billion.. A net plus of 5-8 Billion..

[izquierdista]

7. Oh yea?

Not if Corrections Corporation of America has anything to say about it.

[EFerrari]

19. The thing is, that's just some of the math.

As someone else pointed out, we're not talking about convicted criminals, we're just talking about people who get booked.

What about wage earners who pay into a Social Security fund they will never collect on - which they do to stay under the radar?

What about the taxes they pay -- for the same reason?

What about their net contribution to the economy which, unlike what most freeps believe, is more than they take out?

So, you're illegal, you get stopped for some traffic stupidity. You're booked, fingered and deported. There goes the surplus you contribute to the economy, and if you've been supporting a family, now who will support them? Your wife may be illegal OR legal OR a citizen. Your kids may be citizens.

See what I mean? This sounds like an easy solution but it isn't, at all.

This program is about a sound bite for the Republicans. It's not about enforcing the law or about keeping our communities "safe" in any way. Just the name they gave the program should be a big tip off -- "Safe Communities". Yeah, right. Watch -- if this program gets off the ground, you'll be hearing horror stories about citizens being deported and worse. Bet me.

[Romulox]

8. We have an open border with Mexico--deportation is completely meaningless. nt

[damntexdem]

10. And no mistakes will be made, whatever.

No Anerican citizens will be deported by mistake. Nor by intent.

[EFerrari]

13. Right! Because those mistakes never happen.

We can trust ICE to be diligent in their handling of Latinos whom they will not profile in this program.

[backscatter712]

16. Like that mentally disabled guy they deported.

Just dumped him in Mexico City. Oops, turned out he was a U.S. citizen.

[EFerrari]

18. That was so horrible. Can you imagine -- your disabled family member

goes missing and it turns out, he was just illegally kidnapped by the government? Christ, families dealing with custodial care have a hard enough life ALREADY.

[Disturbed]

20. This should only apply to people that have been convicted of

a Felony.

[EFerrari]

21. If people like Don Siegelman can be railroaded and shackled

and hauled off to prison on bullshit, can you even imagine how much less care just plain people will get in this program?

Even if they confine it to convicted felons, can you imagine the potential for neglect and abuse in this political climate?

I'm all for people getting consequences for criminal behavior. The problem is our justice system is in the sewer, we know it is, and the majority of people that will be drawn into this program will be trophies for the right wing only, not people who deserve to get their butts kicked out of the country. :shrug: