Thread: US Attorney: 'Undocumented' Not A Criminal Act

US Attorney: 'Undocumented' Not A Criminal Act
Calls It A 'Civil Offense'
DOVER, N.J. (AP) ― Comments by U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie that it is not necessarily a crime for immigrants to live in the country without proper documentation are drawing fire a day after he spoke at a New Jersey church.

In response to a question on immigration at a Dover church on Sunday, Christie explained that it is only a civil offense -- not a criminal offense -- to live in the United States without immigration paperwork.

Christie made the remarks during a community forum organized by the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey.

"Being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime," Christie was quoted as saying in story in The Star-Ledger of Newarks for Monday editions.

Critics quickly categorized Christie's remarks as soft on illegal immigration, a departure for the tough-on-crime prosecutor who is widely considered a leading Republican contender for the 2009 governor's race.
Members of the Latino Alliance said Christie's comments are consistent with his position on illegal immigration and things he's said previously to their group.

Edward Correa, a member of the Alliance, said the state's top federal prosecutor was merely explaining the correct interpretation of federal law on the matter.

However, Correa said some of the 100 people who attended Christie's speech Sunday had a mixed reaction to his comments on immigration.
He said Christie characterized the immigration problem as a serious one, but said it wasn't up to his office to throw people out of the country.

Correa also said Christie drew a distinction between undocumented immigrants -- who are committing a civil violation -- and those who re-enter the U.S. after being deported, who are committing a crime by doing so.

Christie, who was appointed by President Bush, said the United States needs tighter border security to keep out illegal immigrants.

In 2005, U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., introduced legislation to criminalize any undocumented status. Though the attempt was unsuccessful ultimately, it triggered massive pro-immigrant marches across the nation.

http://wcbstv.com/local/us.attorney.chr ... 10328.html

Just entering [once] illegally is not a criminal infraction, but a civil one.

But, and here's where the real problems lie - most people that are in the US 'without formal permission' take jobs. That - IS - illegal. Of course, that also brings in the secondary issue of ID requirements/document fraud/ID theft - all of which are felonies.

Sure, if a person enters illegally once and sits on the beach the whole time, well, yes, it is not technically a 'criminal' act. How many can say that???
Answer: Not very many.

Is a civil offense not a crime? Is it or is it not illegal to enter the country without documentation? So, we have a U.S. Attorney inviting foreigners to enter the country illegally. This guy needs to be removed from his job immediately.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-113429.html

almost the same and
contact info is posted here

Here's some more related info on this topic:

Q: Should overstaying a visa be considered a federal crime (vs. a civil offense)?

http://www.immigrationprocon.org/questi ... elony.html

So then tresspassing and all that isn't either. Opens a world of feeling pretty un-safe when nothing is your safe spot. No limits, no boundries......

"Christie, who was appointed by President Bush, said the United States needs tighter border security to keep out illegal immigrants."

Surprise from the Bushwacker, sounds as if Christie wants to follow the lead of another Bush "man" , Johnny Satan. Bush and Satan and now Christie consider DEFFENDING our National Borders the real crime.