U.S. to expand jail immigration checks

K-Man · 05-19-2009, 01:16 AM

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...54I0OJ20090519

Quote:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is expanding immigration checks to nearly all local jails, which could sharply increase U.S. deportation cases, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

Expanding the program could result in a tenfold increase in illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes and identified for deportation, the report said, citing current and former U.S. officials.

The program, initiated by former President George W. Bush, began in October and operates in 48 counties, the Post said.

It also operates in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Boston and Phoenix. It would expand to nearly all local jails by the end of 2012, the Post said, citing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement service.

Federal and state prisons already check the immigration status of inmates. But authorities lack the time and staff to do the same at local jails, which house up to twice as many illegal immigrants at any time, the article said.

Obama is seeking $200 million for the program in his proposed 2010 budget, a 30 percent increase that puts it on track to receive $1.1 billion by 2013, the newspaper said.

While I think it's a good move to step up enforcement in order to prepare for the immigration debate, we should be extra careful as Dreamies. It'd be lame to get booked/deported for driving without a dl, or other sorts.

Alex · 05-19-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K-Man

It'd be lame to get booked/deported for driving without a dl, or other sorts.

that is why i ride my bicycle everywhere i go.. i take it inside my house, pet it, cloth it, talk to it... its like bonie and clyde 09', i ride my bicycle singing "all i need in this life i sin, is me and my bicycle"... oh yes.

i love you bicycle

lookingforchange · 05-19-2009, 12:08 PM

^^^^^^^^ lol

elmichoacano · 05-19-2009, 12:28 PM

You don't even have to be driving to get booked, you can just be a passenger without an ID and get taken to jail. This is how it started in Houston and now they seem to take you to downtown for jaywalking, looking like someone the are "looking for" or like how they term it a "person of interest". Without an actual ID to say you are Jose and NOT Juan they will take you ass downtown to "supossedly" identify you. I thought Atlanta was bad a few years ago it's getting that way here in Houston.

So much for "CHANGE"!!!!!

elmichoacano · 05-19-2009, 02:36 PM

They even deport legal resident w/ greencards after traffic stops..

A 25-year-old Ogden man who had legal residency was deported last week after spending nearly six weeks in the Weber County Jail after his arrest on traffic charges.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Miguel Soto to Mexico on Thursday based on the agency's wide-open "moral turpitude" guidelines, apparently stemming from previous misdemeanors.

....Legal permanent residents are still guests in this country," said Lori Haley, spokeswoman for ICE. "If they are convicted of aggravated felonies or crimes of moral turpitude, they can be deported."

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12381916

karmaffair · 05-19-2009, 03:21 PM

Yeah, I know that Pasadena has been doing it for quite a while...the bus rolls on by twice a week but I read (I believe) in the LA times that they will begin to do it more frequently as well.

Public transportation ftw.

elmichoacano · 05-19-2009, 04:19 PM

yep....my friend said at jail they put a big "X" on your hands with a black marker and then load you on the bus...the big "X" means you're getting deported - amigo!

They need you!

Forum links

Resources

Join our list

National calendar of events

July

U.S. to expand jail immigration checks