First-Time Border Crossers Land in Jail
Oct 30, 2007
Soon, all illegal immigrants found crossing into the United States for the first time will face a jail sentence. The program is already underway in Yuma with great success. Border Patrol is trying to get away from the old catch-and-release system in order to keep illegal immigrants from coming back to break the law. "Operation Streamline" is the name, zero tolerance is the game.

"It's been very effective. We've managed to prosecute almost every single alien we've apprehended within the border zones in Yuma sector," says Yuma Sector Border Patrol Agent Michael Bernacke.

Border Patrol officials throughout Arizona are looking at a new program aimed at punishing even first-time border crossers with up to six months behind bars. The latest operation began in Yuma sector over the summer. Agents apprehend about 20 to 30 illegal immigrants a day. Previous policy only required offenders to be jailed for 48 hours if it was their first run-in with the law.

"Whenever we had an alien that had derrogatory information as background information, whether it be criminal history or derrogatory immigration history, we'd prosecute them accordingly. If they didn't, we'd grant them a voluntary return back to Mexico," says Bernacke.

"Operation Streamline" however will see to it that every border crosser will spend a lot more time in custody.

"If they do have criminal history and they are released from jail, they are usually sent to an immigration detention camp."

Arrests in Yuma Sector are down by nearly 70-percent. However the Tucson sector is by far the busiest border zone with more than 700 arrests a day. It's now looking to adopt the"Operation Streamline" program.

Some immigrants rights groups have come out against "Operation Streamline" saying it really doesn't keep immigrants from crossing and that the jail time is excessive. The average time behind bars is 30 days.

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