Is Recent Immigration Enforcement Smoke and Mirrors? Three Stories Say Yes

Wednesday - August 29, 2007

Is Recent Immigration Enforcement Smoke and Mirrors? Three Stories Say Yes

For the last couple of weeks, I have been heartened by the Bush Administration's seemingly more aggressive application of immigration laws. With that said, it was quite obvious that the administration wasn't fighting illegal immigration because it wanted to, but rather because it had been forced to do so by the great unwashed masses. Even at Chertoff's press conference annoucing tough new immigration enforcement, it was clear that he was addressing the issue only grudgingly.

So, the question remains, is the Bush Administration and the Federal agencies responsible for immigration policy serious about their duties? Several events in the last few days lead me to believe that current actions are more of the same old open borders policy that got us in the mess we are currently in today.

Story One

Yesterday, I wrote about the immigration raid just north of Cincinnati that netted a large number of illegal aliens. In a follow-up story, the Cincinnati Enquirer notes, in what to me is a startling fact, that catch and release is back in effect.

Wasn't "catch and release" supposed to be transformed to "catch and return" as recently outlined by DHS Secretary Chertoff? Well, according to the Enquirer, that isn't the case.

The remaining 61 were released for “humanitarian reasons,” Palmore said. They were either the sole caregiver or had medical concerns, he said.

Those released were given notices to appear before an immigration judge at a future date, Palmore said.

How many of those 61 illegal aliens are going to show up for an immigration hearing? If I rob a bank, do I get off for "humanitarian reasons if I have a sick child?" The Feds just aren't serious. So now we have 61 criminals back on the loose in Ohio or who really knows where now.

Story Two

Carlos Carrillo, a Border Patrol chief at the Laredo crossing said his agency's job wasn't to catch illegal immigrants.

Instead, he said:

"I've said it before and I'll say it again," Carlos X. Carrillo, Border Patrol chief of Laredo, Texas, told guests at a town-hall meeting Thursday. "The Border Patrol's job is not to stop illegal immigrants. The Border Patrol's job is not to stop narcotics. ... The Border Patrol's mission is not to stop criminals.

"The Border Patrol's mission is to stop terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the country."

Here, once again, we see the bureaucracy's heart just isn't in it when it comes to stopping illegal immigration.

Story Three

Ice (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has reassigned nearly 1,000 agents from immigration duties to customs enforcement. The Washington Times reports:

The Washington Times has obtained an internal August memorandum written by ICE Office of Investigations Director Marcy Forman and Director John P. Torres, with Detention and Removal Operations (DRO), listing the new protocols for the agency.

Prior to the memorandum, the Office of Investigations worked hand in hand with Detention and Removal agents to remove and deport illegal alien absconders.

"[Detention and Removal] is a rapidly expanding program with the responsibility for ensuring that all removable aliens are detained in a safe environment and expeditiously removed from the United States. DRO has the responsibility for detaining and removing illegal aliens apprehended by ICE, [Customs and Border Protection] and, as resources allow, other law enforcement entities," states the Aug. 20 memo. "It is the vision of ICE for DRO to assume primary responsibility for non-investigative administrative arrests, for example, state and local law enforcement response to interdiction of immigration violators or probation and parole referrals."

Resources and manpower, however, are scarce, ICE agents say.

"They're just not there," said Jim Brown, a spokesman for American Federation of Government Employees. "Again, the bottom line is our folks are going to work this to the best of their ability, but the agency is leaving us short by not providing staff and resources. I don't think our members will be able to carry out that mission. Eventually, something is going to give."

Didn't Chertoff, in his speech, promise more border agents, not less? I suspected his heart really wasn't in it. And apparently, either is that of the Director of ICE, John Torres.

More of the same old same old it seems.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

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