Operation Return to Sender - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum Archives

MattLarson · #1 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 04:59 AM

Quote:

2,100 illegal immigrants arrested in sweep
More than half have criminal records

Wednesday, June 14, 2006; Posted: 1:58 p.m. EDT (17:58 GMT)

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- A swarm of federal immigration agents sped silently, headlights off, down a Boston side street early Wednesday and surrounded an apartment house.

"Police! Policia! Police!" yelled Daniel Monico, a deportation officer, holding his badge to a window where someone had pulled back the curtain. "Open the door!"

Moments later, agents led a dazed-looking Jose Ferreira Da Silva, 35, out in handcuffs. The Brazilian had been arrested in 2002 and deported but had slipped back into the country. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.

In a blitz that began May 26, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested nearly 2,100 illegal immigrants across the country. Officials said the raids are aimed at child molesters, gang members and other violent criminals, as well as people like Da Silva who sneaked back into the country after a judge threw them out.

The crackdown is called Operation Return to Sender.

"This sends a message," said Monico, standing outside the gray Victorian apartment where Da Silva had been hiding. "When we deport you, we're serious."

An Associated Press reporter and photographer accompanied a fugitive task force as it made Operation Return to Sender raids Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

The operation has caught more than 140 immigrants with convictions for sexual offenses against children; 367 known gang members, including street soldiers in the deadly Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13; and about 640 people who had already been deported once, immigration officials said. The numbers include more than 720 arrests in California alone.

More than 800 people arrested already have been deported.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/14/imm....ap/index.html

This is, IMHO, a key component of the illegal immigration debate. There are a staggeringly large number of illegal immigrants who have criminal records and/or who have returned to the US illegally after being previously deported.

We need to make sure that we make a clear distinction between honest folks who come here to work, and criminals who come here to prey on those they think are weaker.

One thing I am adamantly opposed to is any manner of amnesty for illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes in the US.

Matt

emptypepsi · #2 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 06:22 AM

Good, let the crackdown begin. I like the song title as well (I'm an Elvis fan all around.)

Evil_inKarlate · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 09:01 AM

Quote:

One thing I am adamantly opposed to is any manner of amnesty for illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes in the US.

I agree completely - pre 9/11, my position was 'when in doubt, let 'em in, but any arrest or request for aid is an automatic ticket out'. Now I favor more checking before letting anyone in, but the rest still stands.

Samantha · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 09:18 AM

You mean liberal Boston, Massachussetts enforces immigration laws? Someone better break it to our liberal haters gently, they might faint.

MattLarson · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 09:32 AM

Actually, you may have noticed that the feds, not the local police, conducted the operations.

But thanks for trying to make this a partisan pissing match. We have so few of those around here and we desperately need more.

Matt

Slon · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

"When we deport you, we're serious."

Quote:

The Brazilian had been arrested in 2002 and deported but had slipped back into the country. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.

If they are so serious, why didn't they jail him the first time (which I'm assuming was for illegal deportation that he got deported the first time)?

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