[CreepingDeth]

August 10, 2004


U.S. to Give Border Patrol New Powers to Deport Illegal Aliens
By RACHEL L. SWARNS


WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 — Citing concerns about terrorists crossing the nation's land borders, the Department of Homeland Security announced today that it planned to give border patrol agents sweeping new powers to deport illegal aliens from the frontiers abutting Mexico and Canada without providing the aliens the opportunity to make their case before an immigration judge.

The move, which will take effect this month, represents a broad expansion of the authority of the thousands of law enforcement agents who currently patrol the nation's borders. Until now, border patrol agents typically delivered undocumented immigrants to the custody of the immigration courts, where judges determined whether they should be deported or remain in the United States.

Homeland Security officials described the immigration courts — which hear pleas for asylum and other appeals to remain in the country — as sluggish and cumbersome, saying illegal immigrants often wait more than a year before being deported, straining the capacity of detention centers and draining critical resources. Under the new system, immigrants will typically be deported within eight days of their apprehension, officials said.

Immigration legislation passed in 1996 allows the immigration service to deport certain groups of illegal aliens without judicial oversight, but until now the agency only permitted officials at the nation's airports and seaports to do so. The new rule will apply to illegal aliens caught within 100 miles of the Mexican and Canadian borders who have spent 14 days or less within the United States. The border agents will focus on deporting third-country nationals, rather than Mexicans or Canadians, and they are expected to begin exercising their new powers on Aug. 24 in Tucson and Laredo, Tex.

"There is a concern that as we tighten the security of our ports of entry through our biometric checks that there will be more opportunity or more effort made by terrorists to enter our country through our vast land borders," Asa Hutchinson, the undersecretary for border security at the Department of Homeland Security, said at a news conference.

"We recognize that we have to secure those and that's the president's first principle of immigration reform," Mr. Hutchinson said. "America must secure its borders and this is a part of that effort."

The decision was hailed by officials who have long complained that the nation's porous borders represent a serious threat to national security. But it prompted a flurry of criticism from advocates for immigrants who warned that the new system lacked adequate safeguards to ensure that people fleeing persecution, American citizens lacking paperwork or other travelers with legitimate grounds would not be improperly deported.

Mr. Hutchinson said that border agents would be trained on asylum law and that immigrants who demonstrated a credible fear of persecution would be sent to see immigrant judges, not returned to hostile governments. "That right," he said of the right to apply for asylum, "is very important."

But Homeland Security officials provided little details about the training, and advocates said that they feared that mistakes would be made when border agents decide who will be deported and who will not, often in the vast, inhospitable plains of the southern deserts.

Finally.

[PacHead]

It's about time. It's good to know that certain people are willing to throw out illegal undesirables. There's far too many of them. Kick them all out. At least the not too bright ex-gov of California got the boot before he could give these illegals drivers licenses. Other idiots want to build water fountains in the desert.

I know many foreigners who came here, and those who wanted a green card/visa etc., went about it in the proper way. Anybody who attempts to circumvent the system is a thief, criminal, opportunist and a potential terrorist.

[CreepingDeth]

Yes, our borders are one of our biggest weaknesses. Bleeding hearts want the criminals to be safe while they make it over. They also give the okay for anything that comes in. Close the borders, put troops on it, do something. They suck welfare and leach off of hospitals and our tax dollars. 30% of the prison population is illegal. They came here illegal, so they deserve an escort out. If I wanted to be softer, I'd give them a 2-year time period for them to work, then cross the border the right way, kind of like Bush's plan, but not as weak.

[Spliffdaddy]

Damn. A watered-down version of what I'd have preferred.

Shooting illegals on sight would have solved the problem in less than a week.

Call 'em spies.

[BlackGriffen]

You guys realize that the Latino vote is regarded as critical for Bush in a lot of battleground states like AZ, NM, and especially FL. The shooting em' bit would definitely kill Bush's reelection prospects, but this is potentially damaging enough.

Latinos are a swing vote. Politicians cross them at their peril.

BlackGriffen

[CreepingDeth]

That was Spliff. Illegals don't really vote as often as most do. Even if they did, Iw wouldn't care. Deport them.

[BlackGriffen]

Originally posted by CreepingDeath:
That was Spliff. Illegals don't really vote as often as most do. Even if they did, Iw wouldn't care. Deport them.

True, but a lot of illegals have legal families, extended families, and just plain sympathetic ex-illegals and other immigrants.

Personally, I'm dubious on the matter, to be quite honest. Having a court hearing for every illegal immigrant is impossible, but I don't know if I trust the rank and file with deportation powers. Maybe if it were limited to sergeants, lieutenants, or some other middle level police rank. I also believe that they should be required to document anyone they deport (picture etc) for several reasons. It would help with catching repeat offenders, and provide evidence for wrongful deportation cases.

I skimmed the article, and they didn't provide these kinds of nuts and bolts details, which is why I'm dubious.

What I described before is merely one of the potential outcomes of doing what has been done.

BlackGriffen

[MindFad]

Originally posted by BlackGriffen:

You guys realize that the Latino vote is regarded as critical for Bush in a lot of battleground states like AZ, NM, and especially FL. The shooting em' bit would definitely kill Bush's reelection prospects, but this is potentially damaging enough.

Latinos are a swing vote. Politicians cross them at their peril.

BlackGriffen

I'm betting there will be a lot of less Cuban Republican voters in FL this time around considering George's handling of Cuba. But you are right.

[CreepingDeth]

What handling?

[MindFad]

http://www.cubacentral.com/todaysnewsdetail.cfm?ID=238

His "handling" and what some Cubans feel about it.

(Feel free to reference that in any of your creative writing and/or debate classes.)

[CreepingDeth]

Oh yeah, they have that Moore loving dictator there still. Come on George, don't be Carter, apply pressure, and the white head will pop.

This is why I'm not the biggest Bush supporter. He's not neo-con enough.

[MindFad]

Originally posted by CreepingDeath:
He's not neo-con enough.

Yeah, neither are you. (lol)

[CreepingDeth]

Yeah, right.

[Taliesin]

The last time I looked into that topic, admittedly it was some years ago, I got the conviction, that the US-economy is highly dependent on the illegal-workforce, isn't it?

Taliesin