The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has a lot of responsibilities. Many of the things they do may go unnoticed but everyday is a battle. In response to the U.S. Patriot act enacted by Congress due to 9/11, national security is top priority. In February of 2005, ICE began the National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP). The primary program is to catch and eliminate fugitives who are illegally in our country. Ones who are expected to be here are hunted on a case-by-case basis until they are found and removed. In May of 2003, a “most wanted” list was created and is updated with any information regarding criminal aliens and fugitives suspected in America. This serves to give the U.S. public the opportunity to be on the lookout and help as much as possible.
In a CBS News report, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will increase fines for those who knowingly hire illegal immigrants by 25 percent. The fines range from $250 to $11,000 based on severity of the offense with possible jail time included. Between October 2006 to September 2007, ICE arrested 92 employers and 771 employees along with around 4,000 deportations. $30 million in fines were also assessed over that span. Certainly this is good news and a sign that action is being taken, and the issue more seriously. But the hard part now seems to be finding and bringing to justice any and all perpetrators.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/22/ap/cabstatepent/main3866318.shtml?source=search_story
By: Travis M. Morrical
Sadly, Illegal immigration isn’t a new problem. From a source called the Mexican Migration Project, illegal immigration rates were tracked from 1965 to 1996. From 1965 to 1986 over 50 percent of Mexican migration was considered illegal each year, 9 of those years were even over 75 percent. From 1988 to 1996, security measures increased and the rate was below 40 percent each year. Another interesting yet not surprising find was between migration rates of the California and Texas borders with Mexico. Roughly 75 percent came through California and 20 through Texas in 1965. As of 1995, only 30 percent from California and upwards of 60 through Texas had migrated, but the damage in California has already been done. The much smaller California border has been more easily kept control of in recent years, but illegal aliens are realizing the larger Texas border is full of holes.
http://www.dallasfed.org/research/efr/2001/efr0101a.pdf
by Travis M. Morrical
A number of illegal immgrants were arrested in Bucks County, PA as part of a raid. Out of those detained, 55 were of Guatemalan decent. 20 were released, citing “child care” concerns. The site of the raid was “F.C. Young and Co.” and no one made any further comments about the situation, which is still under investigation. Over the next few weeks I plan to report more stories like this one that give signs of progress in the fight against illegal immigration as well as some any new developments i deem worthy of your time.
By: Travis M. Morrical
In a recent news posting from March 3, 2008 on www.reuters.com, some illegal immigration facts are shared. In 2007, 880,000 people were arrested in illegal crossing attempts. That is down from 1.1 million in 2006. Based on a Pew Hispanic Center study about 1 in every 20 workers is an undocumented illegal person and an estimated 12 million are working in our country illegally. An estimated 15,000 new border patrol agents have been added to monitor both the Mexico and Canada border. The Mexican border is roughly 2,000 miles long while the Canadian border is 5,560 miles. New technologies are now being used. “Virtual fencing” is being tested over a 28-mile stretch where nine towers equipped with sensors and cameras relay messages and images to laptop-enhanced vehicles on the ground.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2927923620080303
By: Travis M. Morrical
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a report on March 6, 2008 discussing the improvements in national security. A lot of the report is much of the same has a previous blog I published. The report discusses the lack of properly trained agents and an improper amount of agents employed. The DHS plan to continue to work towards fixing these issues. Recently in a previous blog I shared the plans of Project 28, which is a 28-mile stretch of Mexican-American border where new technologies are being tested. But according to this report the expectations of success have not been met, mostly because the new systems were developed with very little input from current patrol agents. Otherwise much is going to plan. Securing our borders is going to take multiple years of increased improvement and funding. The report does give credit to the efforts being made as vehicle screening and processing of those trying to cross is becoming much better.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08542t.pdf
By: Travis M. Morrical
A large package of ideas were presented by Republicans to enforce new immigration rules. This package is exactly what many concerned U.S. citizens have been wanting. The completion of 700 miles of new fencing, making English the primary language for all citizens, banning illegal aliens’ access to driver’s licenses and enforcing tougher workplace rules are the main ideas presented. This package is the outcry of many conservative Republicans who have been very unhappy with the idea of allowing amnesty to the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants and/or establishing a guest worker program. That idea has been suggested by the likes of Ted Kennedy, John McCain and even President George W. Bush. Amnesty would allow the current illegal immigrants to achieve citizenship without any punishment for their ILLEGAL ENTRY into the country. The ”guest worker” idea would allow them to work for around 6 years and then move back to their original country and then retry becoming a legal immigrant. The general consensus of Republicans seems to support the new package; some even want a stronger policy.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335381,00.html
By: Travis M. Morrical
Immigration is one of the most important issues for the candidates running for President. John McCain has been using it as one of his topics of most attention. He realizes that the citizens of this country do not trust that the government has done a proper job of securing the border. With measures in the works to improve our porous southern borders, McCain’s plan is to increase and continue the current efforts with better security checks at ports. One point of interest to conservatives is his plan to require immigrants to learn English and American values and cultures properly while also embracing the idea that our nation is source of hope to many who come here looking for a better life. It is important we continue to secure our borders and that we teach those entering this country proper English and have them learn our ways. If they want to live in America, they should act like real Americans and be proud. We shouldn’t have a communication barrier with people working in our own country. Asking for more towels from a hotel maid or more lettuce on your fast food order should not be something returned by a blank stare or ramblings in a different language. McCain’s plans on this issue may be what is needed to bring a solution to the problem.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/68db8157-d301-4e22-baf7-a70dd8416efa.htm
By: Travis M. Morrical
El Paso, Texas is a war ground and a small town in Arizona under siege regularly. The threat of illegal immigrant crossing from Mexico is a very real and scary threat to citizens of these areas and those trying to keep order. With 680 miles of new fencing planned to be in place by the end of 2008 across the Arizona border, it’s becoming a bit more realistic to thwart this problem. But many of these potential illegal immigrants don’t seem to care. They try to storm the border in bigger numbers all at once. These things have been minimized thanks to current efforts. With more help and security reinforcement constantly in the works, illegal immigration is aproblem truly reaching becoming history. Reading this story, you can visualize how frantic and scary these people are. They are mad for a new life. Everyone deserves a shot at making the most of their own life and their family’s lives. But everyone needs to do it the proper, legal way. Thanks to the current government efforts we are getting closer to curing this epidemic and forcing all who want in this country to do just that.
LINK: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2920408420080303
By: Travis M. Morrical
In what the government is calling the Secure Border Initiative; steps are being made to help stop illegal immigration. Project 28 is a $20.6 million project to control a 28-mile stretch of the Arizona-Mexico line. They are installing “pedestrian” fence which is a nice way of saying they are installing similar fencing many have in their backyards, and increased vehicle patrol along the stretch. This is part of a bigger plan to install 370 miles of pedestrian fencing and 300 miles of vehicle fencing. The report states that meeting this goal by the planned end of the year will be difficult. So called new technologies may be in place by 2011, what this entails is not defined. Project 28 is meant to test a few of these new ideas, including mobile sensor towers that detect movement along the border. Progress is being made though, 168 miles of pedestrian fencing and 138 miles of vehicle fencing have been installed and 305 of the needed 470 full-time employees are in place. How much more secure we will be thanks to basic fencing is yet to be seen.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08508t.pdf
by Travis M. Morrical
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