New numbers on Operation Streamline released

By Ray Gomez

Story Created: Nov 28, 2008
Story Updated: Nov 29, 2008

The Laredo Border Patrol sector launched operation streamline Laredo about a year ago to help lower the number of illegal immigrants crossing into our country illegally.

The operation has zero tolerance for anyone who illegally enters the United States.

Those found guilty of illegally entering the country at a place other than a designated port of entry face penalties that include fines and imprisonment.

"Prior to operation streamline we would arrest an undocumented alien, process them administratively, and then we would give them a voluntary return or deployment to their country."

Those days are long gone.

Under Streamline Laredo federal law now prosecutes every undocumented alien.

Penalties include fines and imprisonment.

"They may or may not go to jail depending on the crime committed and what magistrate decides.. Then they are formally removed and prohibited from applying for any type of immigration relief for 5 years from that point."

Repeat offenders will be barred from legally applying for admission into the country for 20 years.

"It gave us the opportunity to prosecute people in violation of federal law and what we've found is less folks are willing to cross in this area."

Here's are a look at current numbers compared to last year.

Human trafficking is down by 23%.

Narcotics seizures are also down 23%.

Deaths related to illegal crossings are down an estimated 37%.

"Streamline Laredo has allowed agents to focus more on crimes related to illegal activity on the border."

"What we're looking at is improved border security, heightened effectiveness of our personnel and our ability to know what's crossing the border and at least stop what does cross the border illegally."

More than 12-thousand illegal aliens have been prosecuted in federal court and sentenced to serve approximately 112-thousand days in jail.

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