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DHS to push for criminal charges against all border jumpers. Move marks major escalation in border security push


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2018 May 8, 3:28am   2,576 views  13 comments

by MisterLefty   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

The Trump administration said Monday it will now pursue criminal charges against every migrant nabbed jumping the U.S.-Mexico border, putting serious teeth behind President Trump’s goal of stiffening immigration enforcement.

While most border jumpers will face charges for illegally entering the U.S., parents who bring their children with them as they sneak across could face smuggling charges, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. That could mean they will be separated from their children while they await their trials — and serve sentences.

“Our goal is to have the whole world know this border is not open. Don’t come unlawfully,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said while standing at the border in San Diego, alongside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Thomas D. Homan.

Prosecutions have long been the exception rather than the rule, with most people who jump the border put into civil deportation proceedings.

But illegal entry is a misdemeanor crime and attempting to sneak back in after a previous deportation is a felony. Mr. Homan and Mr. Sessions said it’s time the government start treating them as such.

Immigrant-rights activists reacted with horror at the prospect of enforcing those laws, and particularly the prospect that illegal immigrants could have to be separated from their children when they end up in jail. Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights, called it “by far the most wicked and cruel” decision Mr. Trump has made on immigration.

“The capricious and ruthless nature of this administration’s immigration policy against undocumented and lawful immigrants is clearly visible when even the most vulnerable of the vulnerable — children — become targets,” she said. “This policy is nothing more than red meat to an insatiable anti-immigrant base.”

But Mr. Homan said it’s the migrants testing the system, jumping the border rather than applying to come legally, who are to blame for the separation. He said all parents arrested for crimes are separated from their children, and immigration crimes are no different.

While merely being in the U.S. without permission is not a criminal offense, jumping the border is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. And attempting to sneak in after having been ousted is a felony that can draw up to two years in prison. If someone was deported because of a major criminal charge, sneaking back in can draw a 10-year sentence.
The get-tough move will be a major test for the federal prosecutors and courts that could see caseloads surge as they deal with what could be thousands of new cases each month.

But it’s likely to thrill Border Patrol agents who had begged for the government to impose serious consequences on illegal immigrants, for whom crossing the border, getting deported and trying again is just a part of their way of life.

The Washington Times reported earlier this year on the record-holder from 2000 to 2015 — a migrant who was deported 44 times during that period. Migrants with more than a dozen deportations on their records are not unusual. And the illegal immigrant who shot and killed Kate Steinle in 2015 had been deported five times.

Border Patrol agents and security experts say detention is critical. Most illegal immigrants come to take jobs or be with their families, and if they are in detention or prison either before or after their attempt to jump the border, they’re denied the fruits of their illegal activity, and are less likely to make the attempt in the first place, the experts say.

Homeland Security says test cases have shown prosecuting illegal immigrants works.

Authorities in El Paso in 2017 began to prosecute people who were coming across as families, and the number of people making the attempt dropped. After the prosecution program was “paused,” the numbers shot up again, Homeland Security says.

The families — and many other illegal immigrants — are increasingly taking advantage of generous U.S. asylum laws. Even those who illegally jump the border will often claim asylum once they’re nabbed by the Border Patrol.

About two-thirds of all asylum claims lodged with U.S. Customs and Border Protection last year came between the ports of entry, meaning people jumped the border, were caught, and then asked for asylum.

Homeland Security said those migrants, if they jump the border, will be prosecuted for illegal entry while their asylum cases proceed, just like other border jumpers.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/7/dhs-push-criminal-charges-against-all-border-jumpe/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

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1   bob2356   2018 May 8, 3:54am  

MisterLefty says
Most illegal immigrants come to take jobs


Be a lot cheaper to throw employers of illegals in jail. Just one jail cell for someone who employees hundreds of illegals instead of hundreds of jail cells would be a great deal. The art of the deal thing. What happened to a great deal from our deal maker in chief?

No jobs, no illegals, no spending billions securing the border every year, no gazzilion dollar wall. . Just a thought. Oh wait, I forgot. No illegals no campaign contributions from people making tons of money employing illegals to get the government to put on a good show for the rrubes while not actually stopping anyone. Never mind.

Bread and circus.
2   MisterLefty   2018 May 8, 4:06am  

bob2356 says
Be a lot cheaper to throw employers of illegals in jail.
Bob, the Indians have to face up to their history, and stop honoring their murderers by adopting the fictitious name of "Hispanic." And then stay and make their countries right.
4   socal2   2018 May 10, 9:10am  

bob2356 says
Be a lot cheaper to throw employers of illegals in jail.


Agreed - too bad the Democrats refuse to beef up E-Verify as part of a comprehensive immigration reform including the Dreamers.
5   RWSGFY   2018 May 10, 10:59am  

bob2356 says
Be a lot cheaper to throw employers of illegals in jail.


Unions disagree. Did you know that AFL-CIO has been opposing sanctions against employers who hire illegals since 2001?
6   RWSGFY   2018 May 10, 11:00am  

socal2 says
bob2356 says
Be a lot cheaper to throw employers of illegals in jail.


Agreed - too bad the Democrats refuse to beef up E-Verify as part of a comprehensive immigration reform including the Dreamers.


Democrats won't go against unions. Unions don't want employers of illegals jailed. Weird but true.
7   Bd6r   2018 May 10, 11:16am  

Satoshi_Nakamoto says
Be a lot cheaper to throw employers of illegals in jail.


Agreed - too bad the Democrats refuse to beef up E-Verify as part of a comprehensive immigration reform including the Dreamers.


Democrats won't go against unions. Unions don't want employers of illegals jailed. Weird but true.



Both parties are to blame. R's hold all branches of power - why nothing is done? D's openly pander to illegals (=law breakers) in hope to get more Hispanic votes.
I'd say that the very rich who control R party benefit from illegal cheap labor in their meat-packing plants and construction businesses, while D's benefit from getting Hispanic votes due to their rhetoric. The only ones who get hosed are lower-middle-class, blue-collar Americans, but when was the last time someone cared about them?
8   socal2   2018 May 10, 11:26am  

drB6 says
Both parties are to blame. R's hold all branches of power - why nothing is done?


The Republicans don't have super-majorities.

Sure there are some Republicans who support Big-Agriculture who are against E-Verify without a broader reform for guest workers. But the majority of Republicans are for E-Verify, while the majority of Democrats are against E-Verify.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/12/politics/daca-e-verify-internal-enforcement/index.html

Democrats aren't going to allow our country to enforce immigration until they get a big concession with an amnesty of millions of "Dreamers" and their families.

So it is rich when Bob constantly spouts off on E-Verify acting like Republicans are the main stumbling block.
9   Bd6r   2018 May 10, 11:44am  

socal2 says
The Republicans don't have super-majorities.

Does E-verify introduction need super-majority, or executive order by Trump, or just a vote by CON-gress?
I can't be 100% sure, but I think it is not a constitutional item, so supermajority might not be required.
10   socal2   2018 May 10, 11:48am  

drB6 says
Does E-verify introduction need super-majority, or executive order by Trump, or just a vote by CON-gress?
I can't be 100% sure, but I think it is not a constitutional item, so supermajority might not be required.



I'm not sure either - but do know that Democrats have been holding E-Verify and the border wall as their 2 main bargaining chips for amnesty.
11   Bd6r   2018 May 10, 11:51am  

socal2 says
So it is rich when Bob constantly spouts off on E-Verify acting like Republicans are the main stumbling block.

Perhaps D's are a very convenient stumbling block for R's. If D's would not be a stumbling block, R's would find another one. They need each other.
12   bob2356   2018 May 10, 3:41pm  

socal2 says

Agreed - too bad the Democrats refuse to beef up E-Verify as part of a comprehensive immigration reform including the Dreamers


socal2 says
So it is rich when Bob constantly spouts off on E-Verify acting like Republicans are the main stumbling block.


Funny I never mentioned e-verify or any political party. Nice projection, Got any other good party tricks?

Why not talk about how well mandatory E-verify worked in AZ? Employers just used illegals as day labor and called them contractors. E-verify is a fig leaf like a wall. Win, win. It make it look like something is being done to keep the rubes that vote happy while actually keeping things status quo for the campaign contributors making millions off of illegals.

Gee I wonder which stumbling block party receives huge campaign contributions from people grateful for illegal cheap labor that has no rights and keeping wages down for for legal workers ? Hmm. That's a really tough question.
13   bob2356   2018 May 10, 9:05pm  

drB6 says
Does E-verify introduction need super-majority, or executive order by Trump, or just a vote by CON-gress?
I can't be 100% sure, but I think it is not a constitutional item, so supermajority might not be required.


socal2 says


I'm not sure either - but do know that Democrats have been holding E-Verify and the border wall as their 2 main bargaining chips for amnesty.


You guys seriously don't know how your own government works? Amazing. Hint google cloture.

Prosecuting employers requires no vote of any kind. The laws are already on the books. Trump simply has to direct ICE to do it. . Could have been done on day 1 if he was actually serious about doing something about illegals instead of being serious about appearing to be doing something about illegals..

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