The debate over the proposed "comprehensive immigration reform" bill is intensifying, with a "gang of six" senators attempting to hash out a bill that would regularize the status of some undocumented immigrants but may also include increased funding for harsh border enforcement policies.
This debate overlooks the astounding fact that federal spending on immigration enforcement now surpasses all other federal law enforcement activities combined. One of the most costly of these programs is Operation Streamline, a little-known enforcement program that is part of broader trend funneling immigrants into the criminal justice system. These policies channel billions of dollars to private prison corporations and are fueling the explosive growth in numbers of Latinos in prison. The "gang of six" are reportedly considering expanding funding of Operation Streamline.
Streamline, started in 2005 along a 210-mile section of the Texas-Mexico border around Del Rio, Texas, mandates that most immigrants apprehended crossing the border in designated areas are referred for criminal prosecution in the federal justice system.
Streamline is part of a broader trend of criminally charging immigrants under one of two federal crimes: 8 USC § 1325, unlawful entry of an immigrant, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in custody, or 8 USC § 1326, unlawful re-entry of a deported immigrant, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. In the past, immigrants apprehended crossing the border were dealt with almost exclusively within the civil immigration system.
My organization, Grassroots Leadership, recently released a report on the program. We found the following:
Luckily, a broad coalition of faith, labor, immigration reform, civil rights and civil liberties, border groups, and criminal justice reform organizations have come together to call for the end to Operation Streamline and the criminalization of migration.
It's time to end this country's failed border militarization policy. A good first step is repealing Operation Streamline and ending the criminalization of migration.
Follow Bob Libal on Twitter: www.twitter.com/blibal
Unfortunately, the broad coalition favors no enforcement alternative and simply condones illegal entry and presence--now and forever.
There are many grants that come to our local communities that we dont even know about. Billions of dollars direct from DC to local governments, departments and nonprofits; each with their own requirements, policies and regulations. They shape our culture and our lives. There needs to be more over sight. These grants are politically as well as economically designed. And it's ALL , OUR money. Check for a Consulate near you.
Payer expense, INCLUDING Education? It's bad enough that American tax payers are Forced to "surrender" so much money to the Government, without INCREASING The Tax Burden, to take care of illegal aliens. WE are NOT obligated to take in EVERY impoverished, poorly educated, unskilled "laborer", Who'd like to live in the USA! HOW many more do WE have to support, to assuage "liberal guilt"? 20 Million? 50 Million? 100 Million? 250 Million? 500 Million? ONE BILLION?
All nations have immigration laws, but somehow the US is criticized for theirs and it is demanded by people of other nations that they be changed, especially those who violated them and are here already. Since our president agrees with them, what privileges does he propose to balance out allowing foreigners to ignore what laws they disagree with? Can Americans now walk the streets with a joint in their hand without fear of being questioned? Can they refuse to pay taxes without the IRS coming after them? Can they commit fraud with impunity?
There must be something to counterbalance the burden he proposes laying on Americans to support the poor of other nations who can now come here to stay without question. Obama was elected by the American public, not other country's people. If he proposes so much to help foreigners who think our laws were made to be broken there should also be some relief of the burdens of being "law-abiding" for the citizens who put him where he is.
As noted below, apprehensions of illegal immigrants in the Rio Grande Valley are increasing at an alarming rate. This surge in illegal immigrant traffic is due to a number of factors, not the least of which, is the proposed amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector Monthly Apprehensions Of Illegals--- 316 miles
----------OCT---NOV---DEC---JAN---FEB---MAR---APR---MAY---JUN---JUL---AUG---SEP
FY2013---**----**-----**
FY2012--6203--5513--4285--5514--6707--9622-11161-11583-10108--9023--**-----**
FY2011--3630--3624--3349--3485--4232--6810--6508--5954--5410--5277--5973--5004
**NOTE: apprehension numbers for the last five months have not yet been provided by DHS/CBP, and they refuse to release further numbers until they, themselves,release their own FY2012 Border Report, which is overdue.
Please encourage DHS to release the FY2012 Border Apprehension Numbers -- up until the past few years they were always released in late October, after the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year. The previous release (FY2011) was delayed until December, 2011. The growing delay on the FY2012 Report is uncalled for and unnecessary. We, the people, demand this information, especially in light of the looming immigration reform discussion.
Many employers, wealthy 1% types, immigration attorneys, wall street, etc all profit from the massive importation of cheap labor to drive wages down. They also profit from the increased consumerism of this country and since they have such good tax attorneys they pay little in extra taxes to support these high cost, low income, high birth rate people.
They just stay behind their gated walls and the gangs, poverty, low wages don't effect them. If they want they just move to another country that has immigration laws yet will welcome them for their wealth.