Thread: U.S. to expand jail immigration checks (GREAT NEWS)

U.S. to expand jail immigration checks: report

Tue May 19, 2009 12:56am EDT
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, San Diego, 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.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domestic ... OJ20090519

Anytime Obama does something that will help the American people, there always seems to be a catch. I hope I'm wrong in this case.

Very good!

Related article:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-156690.html

Sorry to be a wet blanket, I HOPE this is good news, but I just don't believe the Obama admin really wants to decrease the number of aliens. I think they're just acting like they're taking steps towards enforcement to appease Americans before they pass amnesty.

This news was posted earlier in a longer article, and that one made this point:

Critics say that deporting the worst criminal illegal immigrants, by itself, does not go far enough because it would not fully address the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants already in the United States or deter further illegal immigration.

"If the Obama administration abandons immigration enforcement in all but the most serious criminal cases, then they will create a de facto amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants and will encourage even more illegal immigration," said Rep. Lamar Smith (Tex.), the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.

He said the Obama administration should complete construction of a border fence, enforce laws against hiring illegal workers and deport illegal immigrants before they commit crimes.

ELE wrote:

Anytime Obama does something that will help the American people, there always seems to be a catch. I hope I'm wrong in this case.

You're not. From what I've heard and seen, the Obama administration is going to virtually ignore all other illegal aliens. In other words, if the illegal doesn't end up in jail, it's safe to pass 'GO' and collect $200.00. Sorry, couldn't resist the Monopoly analogy.

IT'S ALREADY BEING DONE IN MANY PLACES.

"The program operates in 48 counties, the Post said."
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San Diego County to begin checking immigration status of all inmates

By North County Times wire services |
Thursday, May 14, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego, Los Angeles and Ventura counties will become the first in California to begin checking the immigration status of all inmates booked into jail as part of a national effort to identify and deport more illegal immigrants with criminal records, it was reported today . . .

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-156295.html

48 counties is a drop in the bucket. There are (I believe I have read) over 3500 counties in the US???????

Originally Posted by mbrown

48 counties is a drop in the bucket. There are (I believe I have read) over 3500 counties in the US???????

You have to start someplace. They are starting with the counties with the highest numbers of illegal aliens and expanding out from there. It takes time, it takes money. They are putting MORE money into this at this time.

Doing it in L.A. County will be interesting, to say the least.

Hmmmm....isn't LA County a sanctuary city???

And JohnDoe..you are right..they do have to start somewhere..
I am praying that this isn't a smoke screen.................