Crackdown on fugitives nets thousands of illegal immigrant arrests; government defends tactics
By: ELLIOT SPAGAT - Associated Press | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- More than one-third of 18,000 people arrested in a nearly yearlong federal crackdown on illegal immigrants were not the people authorities targeted, according to government figures.
The so-called "collateral arrests" involved people picked up by immigration agents while seeking fugitives such as drug smugglers, thieves, drunken drivers and others who flouted deportation orders.
When tracking down fugitives, authorities visit a suspect's last known address and often find other immigrants, who are then asked to prove they are legally entitled to live in the United States.
Supporters of such tactics say the government is just doing its job after years of neglect.
"God bless 'em,"' said Peter Nunez, a former U.S. attorney in San Diego who teaches immigration policy at the University of San Diego. "They apparently decided to start with these fugitives. If you're going to find one (illegal immigrant), you're going to find 100."
Critics say the campaign against fugitive illegal immigrants ensnares many hard-working people who are in the country illegally but do not pose a danger.
"They're trying to sell it as something where they target (criminals) but it's become part of a larger dragnet," said Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee's office in San Diego.
Dubbed "Operation Return to Sender," the crackdown began last May in cities across the nation. As of Feb. 23, it has resulted in 18,149 arrests of suspected illegal immigrants, most of whom were captured at home and in Hispanic neighborhoods.
But, according to figures from Immigration and Custom Enforcement, 37 percent of those cases, or 6,696 arrests, were "collateral" captives -- people who just happened to be present when agents arrived. Such arrests account for more than half the total in four cities: Dallas and El Paso, Texas (59 percent); New York (54 percent); and San Diego (57 percent).
On Tuesday, ICE completed a two-week sting that targeted 300 fugitives in San Diego. Agents found 62 fugitives but took 297 other people into custody, bringing the total arrests to 359. The illegal immigrants were returned to their home countries or jailed while awaiting a court hearing.
The government defends the collateral arrests.
"We can't look the other way," said Robin Baker, ICE's director of detention and removals in San Diego. "We did that for too long."
The agency's guidelines are to make arrests in houses, not in the streets, Baker said, adding that agents do not randomly search communities for illegal immigrants.
For some, the stings evoke memories of immigration raids that fell out of favor in the 1980s. Since then, immigration authorities have stayed close to U.S. borders but are increasingly venturing into homes and workplaces across the country.
"It didn't happen for a good 15 years," Baker said. "Now that it's opening up again, people don't like it. They got used to us not being there."
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Reardon wrote on Apr 5, 2007 9:14 PM:Hmmmm...18,000 in a year face deportation, but at a rate of about 5,000 A NIGHT coming in, this is not a soul satisfying ratio. That is 50 a day crossing south (using 360 days a year -- the bank/loan number), and 5,000 a day crossing north. If the federal government is looking for a hand for thei actions, I can only muster a 20% reply.
excellent wrote on Apr 5, 2007 9:17 PM:18K down and counting..... go Feds!
Floyd wrote on Apr 5, 2007 9:29 PM:If law enforcement has probable cause to be there and uncover other lawbreakers in the process, they would be failing in their duty if they looked the other way. Due process is afforded every person arrested, so it's not like the gestapo or the Mexican police were swarming the area kidnapping people at random! While I am uncomfortable with heightened police activity in the land of the free ("let's see your papers" smacks of socialist domination and the elimination of personal liberty), it's the failure by the Federal Government to properly patrol the border that's caused this to occur. Fix the border, deport the illegal aliens, and a lot of this activity will cease.
Independent1 wrote on Apr 5, 2007 9:31 PM:To quote, "They're trying to sell it as something where they target (criminals) but it's become part of a larger dragnet," Um, yes, it is part of a larger dragnet. That's the whole point. Criminals should not be rewarded. They are ALL criminals due to the fact that they got here by breaking the law. The government needs to keep this up and deport all illegal immigrants. Less crowded roads, schools, emergency rooms, etc. I look forward to it. Good job, ICE, for not looking away any longer.
About time wrote on Apr 6, 2007 7:17 AM:I just hope that this level of enforcement can be manintained going forward. Send enough back home and perhaps the word will get out.
Margaret wrote on Apr 6, 2007 7:28 AM:Let's make Operation Return to Sender a permanenet program! Thanks ICE.
Mike wrote on Apr 6, 2007 8:10 AM:Good Job ICE...Your paid to uphold the law, I'm glad you don't look the other way when encountering law breakers!! Remember the law breakers can always move back on their own instead of complaining of a family being ripped apart!!!
The AP Is Nuts! wrote on Apr 6, 2007 9:53 AM:Why is the Associated Press on the side of illegal immigrants. ICE is not defending its job, it is educating the ignorant media on its actions, duties and responsibilites.
Who's America? wrote on Apr 6, 2007 9:58 AM:Complacentcy breeds contempt. Since we as a nation have done nothing to either discourage or stem the flow of illegals entering the country, they have become complacent about being caught breaking the law. We saw the contempt during the demonstrations last year as the flag of their nation of origin flew high above our own.
American woman wrote on Apr 6, 2007 11:00 AM:Think about it, folks...DHS/ICE has trained a pitiful handful of agents to conduct these "raids," which net a paltry few illegal aliens at a time! Figures like 10 to 12 million, up to 15 million are absurd when it comes to the numbers of illegal aliens in our country. It's more than likely a minimum of 40 to 50 million. I am amazed at the gullibility of America! This so-called action by ICE is a ruse to detract from what our stellar leaders in Washington are REALLY up to. I love that we are talking and reading more and more about open borders and illegal immigration...it's long overdue ...but it's taking folks much too long to catch up with the truth! The U.S. government nor the Mexican government are in the least bit interested in ending the invasion of our country from the South (or the North). I feel redundant because I am...Please check out the North American Union (NAU). It has been over 5 1/2 years since September 11. We could have created considerable security at our borders and ports of entry by Spring of 2002, but did we? Did we even try? Year after year has past with little to no progress in tightening our country's security. If not for the Minuteman Project, begun in 2005, little if any information would have been known or discussed at this time. Even with knowledge, few Americans are willing to stand up and demand our right to protection from invasion. We elect our President and Congressional Representatives with the expectation that they will listen, investigate and act on our behalves! I don't understand why most folks are willing to sit back and be ignored! Wake up, America! We are losing our country.
Illegal southern countries wrote on Apr 6, 2007 12:15 PM:have a culture of criminals... their government is criminal and these people who come up here think it is ok to lie steal and cheat. The Americans can pay. We need to clean them out... send them home and secure our borders. I would be VERY careful about who we let in too. If Muslims want to wear masks... let them go live in a muslim country.
KAT-O'SIDER wrote on Apr 6, 2007 4:50 PM:MAN YOU PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE! NOT ONLY ARE THERE MEXICAN CRIMANALS, BUT BLACKS, WHITES, ASIANS....ONE DAY WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT MEXICANS ARE GONNA TAKE OVER!!! AND WERE ALL A MIXTURE OF A DIFFERENT RACE, YOU PEOPLE ARE NAIVE..AND ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND!!! LIFE WORKS IN MISTERIOUS WAYS! GOD IS WATCHIN US!
Concerned-1 wrote on Apr 6, 2007 5:39 PM:RE: KAT O Sider. With all due respect, "Mexicans" have not done such a good job of taking over Mexico, much less these United States.
Mike wrote on Apr 6, 2007 6:04 PM:I am really happy to see ICE doing this but I think it's a smoke screen for what is about to happen and that is AMNESTY for all!
Blue Blood wrote on Apr 6, 2007 9:02 PM:The flow of illegal aliens needs to be stopped at all costs. Our infrastructure and public assistance programs are over burdened already. I am not anti immigration, but I am for enforcing an immigration policy that protects our Country from undesirable and unproductive influences. We are all from diverse backgrounds, but my ancestors helped build this great Nation. I live in the Southwest, 45 miles from the Mexican Border, and I do not see the same attitudes and efforts being made by the Latin American Immigrants that you saw from the European Immigrants at the turn of the Century. My Great Grandfather did not know a lick of English when he arrived in the U.S., but he learned and taught his children to speak English, He assimilated into the American Culture. Most first generation Latin Americans do not want to assimilate into the American Society, they want to bring Latin America into the United States. I hate to lump all Latin Americans together this way because I do know that there are hard working Latin Americans that have assimilated and consider themselves to be Americans first and Latin Americans second. All cultures get diluted over time and what we need to do now is curb the flow and reduce the number of first generation Latin Americans to the point that is manageable. We need to get immigration in check to save our American Culture. If we don't we'll all be living in Latin America before you know it.
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