Thread: Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws at the State/Local

News Release
OFFICE OF MEDIA RELATIONS
703-413-1100 x5117
and 310-451-6913
media@rand.org
FOR RELEASE
Thursday
April 29, 2010

Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws at the State and Local Levels

A Public Policy Dilemma

Encouraging state and local law enforcement agencies to help enforce federal immigration laws could help identify out-of-status immigrants eligible for deportation, but may also have unintended consequences, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.

"Enforcement of immigration laws has traditionally been a federal responsibility," said Jessica Saunders, lead author of the study and a criminologist with RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "But it's clear that the federal government alone isn't going to be able to clear the backlog of cases without some additional assistance.

"The question is, how do you involve state and local law enforcement in immigration enforcement without disrupting their regular duties or placing additional, undue financial burdens on cities and states? Currently there is no consistent, nationwide approach."

The RAND study provides an overview of the federal laws that addresses the problem of unauthorized immigration and highlights emerging state and local responses to immigration issues. Saunders and her colleagues also suggest areas for further research to add evidence to the largely anecdotal information that characterizes discussion of comprehensive immigration reform.

Researchers say partnerships between federal, state and local law enforcement is one policy option that is gaining popularity. For example, Arizona's governor this month signed a law makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and directs police to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they are illegal.

There are 67 formal agreements between the federal government and state and local criminal justice agencies empowering local officials to enforce immigration laws. Such efforts are credited with identifying 140,000 deportable immigrants from 2006 to 2009.

However, such efforts come with concerns about the potential for racial profiling, strained community relations and improper resource allocation, Saunders said.

There are an estimated 12 million out-of-status immigrants currently in the United States, including people who entered the United States illegally and those who overstayed their visas. A third group, about 5 percent of all out-of-status immigrants, consists of those who have been processed through the courts and subsequently ignored deportation orders. That group is the target of stepped-up national law enforcement efforts.

At the current rate and budget levels, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency estimates that it would take 15 years and more than $5 billion to clear just the backlog of those who have been ordered deported.

In many regions, state and local law enforcement do not actively engage in immigration enforcement. Those agencies have adopted policies of limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts where they support federal efforts to remove illegal immigrants convicted of felonies, but decline to identify and remove undocumented immigrants. Many cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, the District of Columbia, Chicago, Baltimore and Boston, have passed legislation explicitly limiting local law enforcement's role in enforcing immigration laws.

Other jurisdictions have partnered with the federal officials to enforce immigration laws. These partnerships can work, but at a cost, Saunders said. A 2007 partnership between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the sheriff's department in Maricopa County, Arizona, resulted in deputies identifying 16,000 illegal immigrants among 106,000 jail inmates over three months.

However, the effort racked up a debt of $1.3 million in only three months, the percentage of crimes the department solved dropped and the time it took for officers to respond to calls for service grew. The federal government has since cancelled the agreement and the sheriff now faces a lawsuit alleging racial profiling stemming from the immigration enforcement practices.

Another concern is that if state and local law enforcement officers begin enforcing immigration laws, it will promote fear and distrust among the immigrant population at large. This could hamper state and local law enforcement's ability to investigate other crimes and interfere with its mission to protect and serve all members of the public, whether or not they are citizens.

Researchers suggest policymakers should focus further research and analysis on questions such as whether effective immigration enforcement can occur without state and local support, whether immigration enforcement compromises local agency's primary mission, and whether immigration enforcement can be conducted while minimizing the risk of racial bias or racial profiling.

The study, "Enforcing Immigration Law at the State and Local Levels: A Public Policy Dilemma," can be found at www.rand.org . Other authors include Nelson Lim and Don Prosnitz.

Research for the study was funded by and conducted under the auspices of the RAND Center on Quality Policing, which is part of the Safety and Justice Program within RAND Infrastructure, Safety and Environment. The center's mission is to help guide the efforts of police agencies to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of their operations.

http://www.rand.org/news/press/2010/04/29/

RELATED

County Sheriff threatens to turn away federal detainees

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-210045.html

A 2007 partnership between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the sheriff's department in Maricopa County, Arizona, resulted in deputies identifying 16,000 illegal immigrants among 106,000 jail inmates over three months.

However, the effort racked up a debt of $1.3 million in only three months, the percentage of crimes the department solved dropped and the time it took for officers to respond to calls for service grew.

Sounds like money well spent. I wonder how much 16,000 illegal invaders running lose over a span of 3 months would cost the state of Arizona, not only in monetary terms but possible American lives!

I only ask that we spend the same amount to enforce our immigration laws as we do to accommodate illegal invaders in this country. Last I heard, My state of California spends close to 12 billion a year on illegal invaders in various forms.

Wake me up when we are spending that much money to rid ourselves of illegal invaders in my state or any state. And if we are spending that much, it's simply indicative of how severe the problem actually is.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Wake me up when we are spending that much money to rid ourselves of illegal invaders in my state or any state. . .

U.S. steps up fingerprinting program along border
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-208911.html
------------------------------------------------------------
California had the highest percentage of immigrants deported who had committed Level 1 crimes, with 38 percent of a total 14,823 immigrants sent out of the country, according to statistics from 24 of the states participating through the end of June. In Georgia, 39 percent of 624 immigrants removed were non-criminals, the highest rate among the states.

Fingerprint sharing led to deportation of 47,000
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-208851.html

============================================
Study: 137,000 Criminals Deported So Far in 2010
(Full Report @ http://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/234/ )
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-208208.html
======================================

As of the end of September 2009, ICE removed 387,000 illegal aliens from the country,
including 136,000 who were convicted of crimes in the U.S.

387,000 illegal aliens removed in F.Y. 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-182539-ice.html+removes

U.S. Repatriated 359,455 Mexicans in 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-183998.html

111,000 Criminal Aliens Identified by ICE in 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177810.html

34,600 Criminal Illegal Aliens IDed in Florida
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177991.html

24,000 criminal illegal aliens IDed in AZ.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177989.html

I.C.E. News Release
August 06, 2008
ICE TAKES 10,000th VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIEN GANG MEMBER OFF U.S. STREETS
I.C.E. TAKES 10,000th VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIEN GANG MEMBER OFF U.S. STREETS
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-126684-000th.html

Jan. 27, 2010
Since its inception in 2005, ICE agents have arrested 16,144 street gang members and associates. Of those arrested, 202 were gang leaders and 2,898 were MS-13 gang members or associates authorities say.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186715.html
June 3, 2010
Since ICE began Operation Community Shield in February 2005, more than 17,500 gang members and associates belonging to more than 900 different gangs have been arrested nationwide.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-201706.html

8,700 criminal illegal aliens located in the L.A. County jails during the last two months
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177905.html

6,000 Criminal Illegal Aliens found in San Diego County jails
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177988.html

2,266 ARRESTED $154 Mil. Cash, 74 Tons of Drugs Seized
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-202403.html

596 criminal aliens arrested in targeted ICE operation throughout the southeastern U.S.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1004/100430washingtondc.htm

476 gang members & criminals arrested by I.C.E.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186715.html

I.C.E. arrest nearly 300 foreigners with criminal records
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-181146.html

243 Illegal aliens denied entry into CA. last weekend
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-181810.html

137 criminal aliens arrested in Ohio during ICE's Operation Cross Check
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-197676.html

50 arrested in California "RACE WAR"
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186765.html

20 charged in bust of Riverside gang
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186751.html

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Wake me up when we are spending that much money to rid ourselves of illegal invaders in my state or any state. . .

U.S. steps up fingerprinting program along border
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-208911.html
------------------------------------------------------------
California had the highest percentage of immigrants deported who had committed Level 1 crimes, with 38 percent of a total 14,823 immigrants sent out of the country, according to statistics from 24 of the states participating through the end of June. In Georgia, 39 percent of 624 immigrants removed were non-criminals, the highest rate among the states.

Fingerprint sharing led to deportation of 47,000
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-208851.html

============================================
Study: 137,000 Criminals Deported So Far in 2010
(Full Report @ http://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/234/ )
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-208208.html
======================================

As of the end of September 2009, ICE removed 387,000 illegal aliens from the country,
including 136,000 who were convicted of crimes in the U.S.

387,000 illegal aliens removed in F.Y. 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-182539-ice.html+removes

U.S. Repatriated 359,455 Mexicans in 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-183998.html

111,000 Criminal Aliens Identified by ICE in 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177810.html

34,600 Criminal Illegal Aliens IDed in Florida
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177991.html

24,000 criminal illegal aliens IDed in AZ.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177989.html

I.C.E. News Release
August 06, 2008
ICE TAKES 10,000th VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIEN GANG MEMBER OFF U.S. STREETS
I.C.E. TAKES 10,000th VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIEN GANG MEMBER OFF U.S. STREETS
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-126684-000th.html

Jan. 27, 2010
Since its inception in 2005, ICE agents have arrested 16,144 street gang members and associates. Of those arrested, 202 were gang leaders and 2,898 were MS-13 gang members or associates authorities say.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186715.html
June 3, 2010
Since ICE began Operation Community Shield in February 2005, more than 17,500 gang members and associates belonging to more than 900 different gangs have been arrested nationwide.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-201706.html

8,700 criminal illegal aliens located in the L.A. County jails during the last two months
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177905.html

6,000 Criminal Illegal Aliens found in San Diego County jails
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-177988.html

2,266 ARRESTED $154 Mil. Cash, 74 Tons of Drugs Seized
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-202403.html

596 criminal aliens arrested in targeted ICE operation throughout the southeastern U.S.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1004/100430washingtondc.htm

476 gang members & criminals arrested by I.C.E.
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186715.html

I.C.E. arrest nearly 300 foreigners with criminal records
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-181146.html

243 Illegal aliens denied entry into CA. last weekend
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-181810.html

137 criminal aliens arrested in Ohio during ICE's Operation Cross Check
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-197676.html

50 arrested in California "RACE WAR"
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186765.html

20 charged in bust of Riverside gang
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-186751.html

Great...with all the illegal invaders ICE is removing, one might think we had no more left in this country to deport. Imagine how many more we could remove if this government spent half as much on enforcement as we do subsidizing illegal invaders in this country.

Tell me, how many illegal invaders currently squatting on US soil and have yet to be deported?

------------------------------------------------------------

California had the highest percentage of immigrants deported who had committed Level 1 crimes, with 38 percent of a total 14,823 immigrants sent out of the country, according to statistics from 24 of the states participating through the end of June. In Georgia, 39 percent of 624 immigrants removed were non-criminals, the highest rate among the states.

Am I supposed to be impressed with this number? California has the highest percentage of illegal invaders squatting in this country,( close to 5 million some say) and they managed to deport 38% of 14,823 which is 5634 illegal invaders from California who committed level I crimes.

I'm sorry but that's simply not good enough IMHO, not with the thousands of gang bangers, many of them illegal, running around this state committing crime.

387,000 illegal aliens removed in F.Y. 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-182539-ice.html+removes

U.S. Repatriated 359,455 Mexicans in 2009
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-183998.html

So 93% of the illegal invaders removed in 2009 were from mexico? Interesting....

Am I supposed to be impressed with this number?

You asked for info. I gave you info.
I didn't ask you to be impressed.
I was just providing info.

When I was a kid growing up in New Mexico, the illegals that were caught in my area were put on the immigration bus every Saturday and sent to the border and employers were fined. No big fanfare - they were removed.

This happened all over the State.

In my area largest employer was the Swift meat processing plant in Bovina TX and at the time they were fined $5,000.00 per illegal employee.

It seems that the process has become convoluted in order to avoid having to enforce the law.

Originally Posted by Newmexican

When I was a kid growing up in New Mexico, the illegals that were caught in my area were put on the immigration bus every Saturday and sent to the border and employers were fined. No big fanfare - they were removed.

This happened all over the State.

In my area largest employer was the Swift meat processing plant in Bovina TX and at the time they were fined $5,000.00 per illegal employee.

It seems that the process has become convoluted in order to avoid having to enforce the law.

That's exactly right NW! ICE is being allowed to circumvent immigration law by cherry picking who they decide to enforce the law against. Simply being here in this country illegally is no longer a crime that warrants the efforts of ICE. Now, you must be an illegal invader who has committed a first degree felony or another serious crime, as well as be a fugitive from justice before ICE will come looking for you.

Essentially, through selective enforcement, ICE is creating an amnesty by defacto program for millions of illegal invaders. Gone are the raids and other methods formally used to arrest illegal invaders, replaced with nation wide manhunts for a select group of illegal invaders while the rank and file illegal invader does as she or he pleases, with little fear of anything!

However, such efforts come with concerns about the potential for racial profiling, strained community relations and improper resource allocation, Saunders said.

Concerns come mostly from the people making a buck off the illegals who are a strain on our tax dollars, medical and social services... Every dollar that individual saves, we pay.

Dixie

Researchers suggest policymakers should focus further research and analysis on questions such as whether effective immigration enforcement can occur without state and local support, whether immigration enforcement compromises local agency's primary mission, and whether immigration enforcement can be conducted while minimizing the risk of racial bias or racial profiling.

Further research? Huh? How effective its been? Huh? Can it be effective without state and local support? Huh? For real? They already stated in their report it would take ICE 15 years. Lets see, I probably don't have the same college degree this person has but doing simple 5th grade math and using the stated number they gave that we have an estimated 12 MILLION illegal aliens still in the US I have come to a reasonable conclusion that the simple and OBVIOUS answer is NO, they have not been effective!

I could be wrong so I will pose it to my Son who is now in 6th grade and see what logic he applies to this question and how his mathamatical skills conclude an answer to this question. Its obvious that this was difficult for the person conducting this study to determine and answer so maybe assistance from elementary school kids might help.