Arrested development at ICE




By Dimitri Vassilaros
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, March 19, 2006


Is Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) interested in apprehending and deporting Mexicans who are in America illegally?
That the question must be asked about an organization that ostensibly enforces immigration law should surprise no one who understands that this republic is being overrun by millions of illegals with no end in sight.

ICE answered that question for John Morganelli, the Northampton County district attorney. Mr. Morganelli has been on the front lines trying to sweep back the Mexicans flooding the nation with criminals, cheap labor stealing jobs from Americans and so many recipients of social services that at least two states each declared a state of emergency.

"They are not interested in Mexican illegals," Morganelli said. "By the way, they tell us this all the time. That is the policy of ICE in Philadelphia." He claims his office has been told that -- in no uncertain terms -- by ICE Special Agent Linda Valentine.


Ms. Valentine refused to comment. But Michael Gilhooly, an ICE press officer did. Sort of.

"Mr. Morganelli knows how to reach the agents in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and they always are willing to talk about any issues he has," Mr. Gilhooly said. "I don't think it's appropriate to discuss that in the media with another law enforcement agency. If he wants to chat with us, that can happen."

Um, OK, but did Valentine make that statement? "I have no idea," Gilhooly said. He also said he would not ask her if she did. Why he was unwilling to do that -- so he could possibly refute Morganelli's allegation -- is anyone's guess.

But shortly after that chat, ICE sent a two-page news release about the arrest last week of 57 illegals in the Philadelphia area working in car washes.

ICE also did not want Morganelli to contact the Social Security Administration to verify the Social Security numbers of suspected aliens, "even though I received an award from Social Security for prosecuting identity fraud by illegal aliens," Morganelli said.

Like the dozen or so who had been working as carpenters doing the framing for a new Holiday Inn under construction. They were arrested because of a tip from the carpenters union, he said. Maybe those jobs now will be filled by Americans, unless other illegals are willing to work for less.

ICE refused even to send an agent to assist in that arrest, Morganelli said.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the Senate Judiciary Committee in October that his department was committed to ending its "catch-and-release" policy for illegal aliens. The ones who were caught would be told to show up for their deportation hearings -- and then let go. Shockingly, few showed up.

But in fairness to Mr. Chertoff, Morganelli's most recent experience actually indicates that the DHS has, in fact, terminated the catch-and-release policy: ICE did not even want to catch them.

"It shows we are getting a lot of doublespeak from the Bush administration," Morganelli said. "And we are being told the president is against amnesty for illegals but that is exactly the same thing he wants while calling it something else."

When a county's top law enforcement officer claims the department charged with immigration law enforcement simply will not enforce the law, learn a few Spanish phrases before driving to the car wash.

Dimitri Vassilaros is a Trib editorial page columnist. His column appears Sundays, Mondays and Fridays. Call him at 412-380-5637. E-mail him at dvassilaros@tribweb.com.

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