Immigration program IDs 111,000 'criminal aliens' in U.S.

[peejay 327]

Immigration program IDs 111,000 'criminal aliens' in U.S.

By SUSAN CARROLL

2009 Houston Chronicle

Nov. 12, 2009, 3:23PM

Immigration officials announced today that a fingerprint-based system that screens for suspected illegal immigrants in local jails resulted in the identification of more than 111,000 people classified as “criminal aliens” in its first year.

The Secure Communities program, first launched in October 2008 at the Harris County Jail, uses biometric technology to automatically check the immigration history of all suspects booked into local lockups. The system is now in place in 95 jurisdictions, including Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Jefferson, and Montgomery counties.

The Houston Police Department plans to have the system working in the city jails by the end of the year, city officials said.

The Secure Communities so far has proven less controversial than the federal government's 287 (g) program, which trains local law enforcement to act as immigration agents. But immigrant advocates are still wary of the program, and have raised concerns that it has swept up somewhat minor offenders.

About 10 percent of the 111,000 so-called “criminal aliens” identified nationally through the program were classified as having convictions for “Level 1” offenses, the most serious crimes, according to ICE's data. Of those 11,000 Level 1 offenders, some 1,900 have already been removed from the country, ICE reported.

The program is designed to target the most serious offenders, but also identifies other deportable immigrants accused of crimes, said John Morton, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary.

“We're going to focus on the worst-of-the-worst: Rapes. Murders. Assaults. Serious drug trafficking,” Morton said. “We also will identify the other people who are committing crimes and who are deportable from the United States.”

Maria Jimenez, a longtime Houston immigrant advocate, said there is “major concern” that the Secure Communities program is leading to the deportation of minor offenders, such as people driving without a license but no other criminal record.

At a press conference in Washington D.C. with Morton and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said the program helps reduce the odds of racial profiling by checking all detainees against the immigration database, describing it as a technological “safety net.”

The Sheriff's Office uses the Secure Communities screening in conjunction with the 287 (g) program and has eight deputies and detention officers with specialized training who question suspects about their immigration status.

Garcia said only about 7 percent of the 12,000 suspected illegal immigrants referred to ICE by HCSO were charged with Class C misdemeanors, the most minor offenses.

Napolitano touted Secure Communities as cost-effective, saying it leverages existing technology and can be implemented with little or no cost to local agencies. She said ICE plans to have the system available for every law enforcement agency in the nation by 2013.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metrop...an/6717357.html

[HAL 9000 96]

Misery certainly loves company.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

This can't be right. That would mean that less than 1% of illegals are criminals.

[HAL 9000 96]

This can't be right. That would mean that less than 1% of illegals are criminals.

Its the old 'wanting to lump' people by convenient definitions. Misery indeed.

I believe this theme has been visited here over and over. Criminal is one thing. Statutory, administrative, unlawful status is another in many cases.

[peejay 327]

This can't be right. That would mean that less than 1% of illegals are criminals.

Its the old 'wanting to lump' people by convenient definitions. Misery indeed.

I believe this theme has been visited here over and over. Criminal is one thing. Statutory, administrative, unlawful status is another in many cases.

If they are not criminals...why are they subject to arrest and deportation. Riddle me that Batman.

[Ban Hammer 14,269]

This can't be right. That would mean that less than 1% of illegals are criminals.

Its the old 'wanting to lump' people by convenient definitions. Misery indeed.

I believe this theme has been visited here over and over. Criminal is one thing. Statutory, administrative, unlawful status is another in many cases.

If they are not criminals...why are they subject to arrest and deportation. Riddle me that Batman.

[HAL 9000 96]

This can't be right. That would mean that less than 1% of illegals are criminals.

Its the old 'wanting to lump' people by convenient definitions. Misery indeed.

I believe this theme has been visited here over and over. Criminal is one thing. Statutory, administrative, unlawful status is another in many cases.

If they are not criminals...why are they subject to arrest and deportation. Riddle me that Batman.

Excellent... question. Which has been beat upon as a dead horse during an election cycle.

They are subject to all those things, and not for criminal reasons, but for statutory reasons.

Back to Arkham for you. J/K. Just take this calming pill...