Posted on 07/02/2004 8:19:02 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
A top Department of Homeland Security official, who criticized the Border Patrol's arrest last month of 420 illegal aliens in several inland Southern California communities, will meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill today to deliver what he has called a "thoroughly written response" to the incident.
Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson told members of the California congressional delegation at a June 25 meeting the arrest of the aliens by a 12-member Border Patrol team had not been authorized or approved in advance by officials at headquarters in the District, and he would personally review the matter.
Mr. Hutchinson, according to a Homeland Security spokeswoman, will present his review today to Rep. Joe Baca, California Democrat, who requested the June meeting. Mr. Baca had charged that the Border Patrol "outstepped its jurisdiction" in the California arrests.
But officials at the Border Patrol, now a part of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said the arrests were legal, within the agency's jurisdiction and vowed that they would continue.
CBP Commissioner Robert C. Bonner said the Border Patrol, which he designated as a front-line agency in the war against terrorism, illegal immigration and drug and alien smuggling, is "legally entitled to interdict and apprehend individuals illegally in the United States," adding that in the future the agency would "do whatever is necessary to control our nation's borders."
Law-enforcement authorities said the Southern California arrests came as the result of intelligence operations by the Border Patrol that identified inland locations where suspected illegal aliens were believed to gather. Much of the information, authorities said, came from local residents and state and local police.
The aliens were arrested over a two-week period by a Border Patrol task force known as the Mobile Patrol Group during sweeps of newly created "interior checkpoints" in several Southern California communities, all within about 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. The team had targeted the aliens at public sites, including bus stops, in a 3,000-square-mile area of Southern California.
Churches, schools and private homes were not targeted.
In the future, Mr. Bonner said, "purely interior enforcement operations" by the Border Patrol would be approved at CBP headquarters.
Homeland Security has said immigration enforcement in the nation's interior is the responsibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, another agency within Homeland Security, although ICE officials have acknowledged they only have the manpower and resources to target 80,000 criminal aliens and 320,000 "absconders," those foreign nationals who were ordered deported, but disappeared.
There are an estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal aliens living and working in the United States.
Before moving to Homeland Security in March 2003, the Border Patrol was a part of the Justice Department and did not require authorization from headquarters in the District to carry out its interior enforcement responsibilities.
But several California legislators and immigration advocates criticized the arrests, saying they had caused panic in Southern California's Hispanic community. They accused the Border Patrol of racial profiling, with some Hispanic organizations issuing warnings to illegal aliens on what areas to avoid to keep from being arrested.
Mr. Baca said in a statement he was happy that Homeland Security had responded so quickly to concerns within the Hispanic community about the raids and "glad" that a "resolution was found to this crisis." He said the arrests were not an issue of immigration, but "an issue of not targeting people for crimes based on the color of their skin, or the language they speak."
In August, Mr. Bonner overturned an order by Border Patrol sector chief William T. Veal in San Diego who directed his agents not to arrest illegal aliens on city streets or to question them except along the border. He ordered Chief Veal to recall an Aug. 8 memo ordering 1,600 agents to make arrests only along the U.S.-Mexico border or at highway checkpoints.
Mr. Bonner said at the time the order was "overly broad and restrictive" and should be rescinded. He also directed the Border Patrol to review its enforcement policies nationwide.
So9
Apparently I don't understand the mandate of the Border Patrol.
Wait a minute. Isn't that what I am paying the Border Patrol to do? Arrest illegal aliens?
Someone in the federal government actually enforcing the law.
But several California legislators and immigration advocates criticized the arrests, saying they had caused panic in Southern California's Hispanic community.
A "community" that is panicked by the US enforcing its laws.
If Asa does anything, it will be to add further "protections" to the already protected and advantaged "community" that is panicked by US law, and dress down the insensitive racist haters that had the nerve to enforce the law.
Was that today, Friday?
He said the arrests were not an issue of immigration, but "an issue of not targeting people for crimes based on the color of their skin, or the language they speak."
One of these days, these progressive (communist) shiite bags are going to push their crap filled "envelopes" too far and the people are going to start nailing their asses to the wall, literally. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm coming to the end of my rope, and I figure all hell is gonna break loose sooner than later. BITS
FMCDH(BITS)
Yeah. .....I don't have an update, though.
George sucks when it comes to border enforcement. Say what you want but he isn't doing his job. I will vote for him because I have no other choice.
You can tell Asa Hutchinson what you think of his policy here:
asa.hutchinson@dhs.gov
OK, thanks.
You don't suppose those squeals of dismay are coming from stand up citizens do you?
There. Now it reads correctly.
Check it out. After receiving an overwhelming wave of support from people like us Mr. Bonner gained the confidence to step up to the plate and resist the crushing pressure from his compromised superiors. It appears that he has some leeway being the top immigration control officer for his state.
Actually, Bonner is Commisioner for all Border Patrol, not just California.
http://uscis.gov/graphics/rpt_illegal.htm
Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov
Reporting Suspected Illegal Immigration Activity
USCIS does not handle enforcement of illegal immigration-related activity. To report suspected illegal aliens or suspected illegal immigration-related activity, please contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or you may send your report via email. Your message will be forwarded to ICE.
Due to the volume of reports received, do not expect a reply.
Report Suspected Illegal Immigration Activity
Its good to see that some citizens are not paralyzed by political correctness. Illegal immigration is the elephant in the living room that few politicians want to talk about.
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