Posted on 09/22/2006 8:05:00 PM PDT by Invisible Gorilla
From yesterday's (9/21/2006) Press Briefing by Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff:
Last November, we announced our moving forward on the Secure Border Initiative, and we laid down a number of milestones and a number of different elements to the strategy. The elements included additional personnel, additional tactical infrastructure, ending "catch and release," which was that pernicious policy that allowed people who got caught at the border to be released into the community, and very importantly using some of the proven tools that we have developed over the years for interdiction in the context of border control.
And therefore, we announced that by the end of the fiscal year, by the end of September 2006, we would be awarding a comprehensive SBI Net contract to let us bring these tools to the table.
Well, let me review what we have done to accomplish what we have set out to do, and we have taken some very significant steps forward, but, of course, we have not completed the journey. First, I'd like to say, we did end "catch and release." Last November, what I said is we would end it by the end of September of this year. In fact, we beat the deadline. And we have now ended "catch and release." So that is a milestone that we set out and that we've achieved.
...break...
I want to come back before I conclude to this very important thing about setting goals and milestones and measuring them. A common complaint about government is there's a lot of lofty rhetoric, but there's no metrics. There's no holding to deadlines, and the achievement always falls short of what the original proposal is. Well, we're very mindful of that. We know this is a very tall order. The American people are rightfully insistent on the fact that we solve this 30-year-old problem, and this is about a solution which we believe is going to do the job.
Part of that keeping faith with the American people has been living up to the commitments. That's why, as I said, getting "catch and release" done ahead of schedule was a very important demonstration to the public that when we say something, we mean it, we mean to carry it out.
Notice that Chertoff focused in the first paragraph on illegal aliens "who got caught at the border," even though catch and release has been the general practice of the ICE, and the INS before it, throughout the country. Does he mean to imply that illegal aliens who are caught and released at places other than the border aren't being caught and released?
Now take a look at a the August 23, 2006 DHS Fact Sheet: Secure Border Initiative Update:
Ending Catch and Release* 99% Apprehended Now Being Detained For Return. In the week of August 7-13, 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended 1055 non-Mexican illegal aliens at the Southern border, and released only 7 non-Mexican illegal aliens.
* Last Year Only 34% Detained. This year's detention numbers are a dramatic improvement. For comparison, in January of this year, the number of apprehensions was significantly higher, and DHS was only able to detain half of the non-Mexican illegal aliens arrested. At this time last year, the detention rate was 34% of all non-Mexican illegal aliens apprehended.
So now we see that according to Chertoff, "we have ended catch and release" only really means that the DHS is doing a better job of holding "non-Mexican illegal aliens who are apprehended at the Southern border." Mexican illegal aliens are still being caught and released throughout the country, and non-Mexican illegals appear to be as well, or the DHS wouldn't report success on such a narrowly cast net.
Questions:
1. Is DHS Secretary Chertoff being honest when he says that the catch and release policy for illegal aliens has been ended?
2. Is DHS Secretary Chertoff really living up to his commitment to end catch and release?
3. Is DHS Secretary Chertoff keeping faith with the American people, as he claims he is, when he claims that he's ended the policy of catch and release even as most illegal aliens who are caught in this country are caught and released?
There was a crackdown Wednesday and dozens of illegal immigrants were arrested.
Many of those same immigrants were released just hours later
It was the last thing they, and their families, expected.
"They are not criminals. All they're here for is to work for their family," said Mariz Gomez.
And that's what they were doing making wooden pallets at two different locations when federal agents swooped in and took nearly 70 suspected undocumented workers to this federal detention center in north Houston.
"Just for them to come in here and to just throw them back to where they go. That's not right for them," said Gomez.
Families 11 News spoke with feared the men mostly from Central American countries would be deported.
But that was hardly the case.
Just five hours later Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents began releasing the undocumented workers.
What about people from El Salvador?
Huh, really??!!
And what about the teeming millions of Illegals already in the USA then?
Should've happened on 9/12/01 (actually, long before then).
Is DHS Secretary Chertoff being honest when he says that the catch and release policy for illegal aliens has been ended?
Doubt it, but we shall see.
Only five years too late to remedy a ridiculous embarrassment of federal ineptitude, but what the heck!
According the August 23 DHS press release, "El Salvadorans account for the largest number of apprehended illegal migrants, with the exception of Mexicans. An injunction imposed in the 1980’s interferes with El Salvadorian removal. This outdated injunction is a major obstacle in DHS’ effort to implement a policy of “catch and return”. DHS is seeking court and legislative action to end it."
That's a good step, but I don't know if the DHS has had any success against the injunction yet.
Want to get rid of illegal aliens? Catch and transfer to China for organ transplant donation
will make everyone leave the USA stat.
According the the DHS we're catching and keeping OTMs caught at the Southern border and declaring we've ended catch and release.
Wasn't there a story about some democrat official that had a bunch of illegal's at their home?
That was just a day or two ago! They were all released!
"First, I'd like to say, we did end "catch and release." Last November, what I said is we would end it by the end of September of this year. In fact, we beat the deadline. And we have now ended "catch and release." So that is a milestone that we set out and that we've achieved".
Now I'm asking myself, where'd he buy the clue? He hasn't had one up until now.
Ending 'catch and release?' - I'm not holding my breath.
I could not remember any of the details, but I was hoping someone would be able to find it. See post 10
He didn't buy it, he stole it, and that's why he doesn't know how to use it.
Sadly, you're right.
What really pisses me of is the absolute contempt the Administration has for our intelligence.
see post #24
He did not say that these numbers only applied at the southern border.
If the illegal makes it 100 miles into the country, which most do, they are not sending them back. If they catch them, they get a court date for deportation proceedings.
Guess how many show up.
Thanks for the ping. Chertoff's the slipperiest of weasels so I can't discern his scheme on the available information. He does require careful watching, IMO.
Yeah, they ended 'catch and release', a corrupt policy that they should be too embarrassed to have even admitted to. So now we a new policy. It's called "catch and deport and open the borders and do it again". Who are do these geniuses think they are kidding?
The ending of "Catch and Release" means that they will no long Catch so there is no need for Release.
Looks like we used to return Mexican and let the OTMs go. Now we're arresting the OTM's and letting the Mexicans go....what a croc!
Someone must have forgotten to tell the field officers.... ICE agents are still rejecting pick-up of illegals caught for all but the biggest classes of felonies.
I believe Chertoff when he says we have made good progress, but I would wager that we have not ended "catch and release" 100 percent.
Notice that Chertoff threw in the word "at the border" when he described the problem.
" pernicious policy that allowed people who got caught at the border to be released into the community," Chertoff said in the statement.
Why wouldn't he consider "catch and release" to be as serious a problem in other parts of the US?
I believe illegals who are caught in NJ or Penna. or Minnesota are still given bail and "asked" to show up at an immigration hearing within six months, which is the same as before.
I wish some enterprising reporter would follow up on the hundreds of illegals who were rounded up during one of the many raids which occurred recently.
That was just a day or two ago! They were all released!
They sure were. So much for an end to catch and release.
I believe Chertoff when he says we have made good progress, but I would wager that we have not ended "catch and release" 100 percent.
Notice that Chertoff threw in the word "at the border" when he described the problem.
" pernicious policy that allowed people who got caught at the border to be released into the community," Chertoff said in the statement.
Why wouldn't he consider "catch and release" to be as serious a problem in other parts of the US?
I believe illegals who are caught in NJ or Penna. or Minnesota are still given bail and "asked" to show up at an immigration hearing within six months, which is the same as before.
I wish some enterprising reporter would follow up on the hundreds of illegals who were rounded up during one of the many raids which occurred recently.
Sorry to ruin you day, sir.
This, from the WHITE HOUSE.
And over 1000 NON-MEXICAN illegals caught trying to sneak over in one week???
I hope they are from other countries in Central and South America, but they could be literally from anywhere on the globe. Let's not worry about the idea they could be terrorists, though, because we gotta have someone to do those "jobs Americans won't do", dontcha know?
Sheesh.
Yes indeed- we really need to end catch and release everywhere, not just at the border. We also need to secure the border- otherwise those deported simply return so even deportation is also catch & release until the border is secured.
Does this mean that they are still using catch and release on Mexican illegals? Granted, I didn 't read every word of the article, but this jumped out. If that's the case, then it seems a somewhat pointless exercise.
That's good. However, the USA also needs a hunt, catch and expel policy for the proponents of the ideology of death and destruction.
Maybe they renamed it "Arrest and Set Free".
I couldn't agree more.
Let's just say I remain a skeptic.
Unless separately verified, I believe nothing coming out of the federal government. They simply cannot be trusted to tell the truth.
Damn, you're even tougher than Tom Tancredo.
Tancredo: 'I Don't Trust the President' on Border Security
In an effort to reconcile the divergent immigration bills in the House and Senate, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) put forth a compromise plan this summer that would require the president to "certify" the successful implementation of security measures along the most porous entry points into the U.S. before a guest worker program could be implemented.
"I don't trust the president to say the borders are secure," Tancredo told an audience at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. He said immigration policy should be formulated with an emphasis on law enforcement as opposed to "political pandering" for votes. Tancredo also cited a "disconnect" between "elite policy makers" and the American people.
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Seriously, if Chertoff were to claim on behalf of the Bush Administration that the border was secured, should we take him at his word?
ROTFLMAO
I can assure you that Chertoff, when referring to his success, is, though he says just the opposite, referring ONLY to NON-MEXICANS CAUGHT ON THE BORDER. And, my guess is that he is not loosing any sleep over whether or not he has fooled us into believing that he has ended the catch and release program for ALL illegal immigrants, whether mexican and non, whether ON the border or IN the country. After all, why should he be forthcoming and honest when Bush himself has declared that his plan to give illegal aliens amnesty, really isn't? IMO, Chertoff is doing EXACTLY as Bush expects him to do. Are they liars? Worse.
Chertoff: End 'Catch and Release' at Borders
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promised Tuesday to end the "catch and release" policy that has allowed tens of thousands of non-Mexican illegal aliens to disappear within the United States.
"RETURN EVERY SINGLE ILLEGAL ENTRANT - NO EXCEPTIONS," Chertoff said in prepared testimony to a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on proposals to overhaul the immigration system...................Chertoff said that the nearly 900,000 Mexicans who are caught entering United States every year are returned immediately to Mexico, "but other parts of the system have nearly collapsed under the weight of numbers." (I thought the 'other parts' causing the system to collapse, were the mexicans who did not get caught.....lol, think again...)
In the budget year that ended last month, the Border Patrol apprehended more than 160,000 non-Mexican nationals (oh, that part), but only 30,000 were removed from the United States. The others were released, often on their own recognizance, because there is no place to hold them. Few return for immigration hearings, he said."
Old article, but when they talk about ending catch and release, clearly they are referring to the NON-MEXICANS caught ON THE BORDER by Border Patrol.
It seems that Bush has long been part of a bipartisan group with an OBL agenda that includes open borders, cheap labor, and amnesty for illegals and I do not believe that ANYTHING, including our need for national security, will get in their way. Deception is the order of the day.
Personally, I've no use for Chertoff. I think he should have been fired after Katrina rather than Brown, who actually was warning people about Katrina the Friday before it hit.
--135,000 convicted illegals have been ordered deported but eight nations will not take them back.
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