Illegal Border-Crossers Rarely Prosecuted

Records Show 98 Percent Of Illegal Immigrants Caught Along Mexican Border Never Prosecuted

(AP)  For all the tough talk out of Washington on immigration, illegal immigrants caught along the Mexican border have almost no reason to fear they will be prosecuted.

Ninety-eight percent of those arrested between Oct. 1, 2000, and Sept. 30, 2005, were never prosecuted for illegally entering the country, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data. Nearly 5.3 million immigrants were simply escorted back across the Rio Grande and turned loose. Many presumably tried to slip into the U.S. again.

The number of immigrants prosecuted annually tripled during that five-year period, to 30,848 in fiscal year 2005, the most recent figures available. But that still represented less than 3 percent of the 1.17 million arrests made that year. The prosecution rate was just under 1 percent in 2001.

The likelihood of an illegal immigrant being prosecuted is "to me, practically zero," said Kathleen Walker, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Federal prosecutors along the nation's southern border have come under pressure from politicians and from top officials in the Justice Department to pursue more cases against illegal immigrants.

But few politicians are seriously suggesting the government prosecute everyone caught slipping across the border. With about 1 million arrests made each year, that would overwhelm the nation's prisons, break the Justice Department's budget and paralyze the courts, immigration experts say.

The Justice Department itself says it has higher priorities and too few resources to go after every ordinary illegal immigrant. Instead, the department says it pursues more selective strategies, such as going after immigrant smugglers and immigrants with criminal records.

T.J. Bonner, the union chief for Border Patrol agents, said the most effective solution would be to dry up job opportunities in the U.S. by cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants.

"The employers are the ones breaking the law," he said, suggesting the creation of an "idiot-proof" system to check the immigration status of workers and the prosecution of any employers who knowingly hire those in this country illegally.

"It's much like our tax laws: People don't pay their taxes out of an overriding sense of citizenship; it's a healthy dose of fear," Bonner said.

Under federal law, illegally entering the country is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and up to six months in prison for a first time. A second offense carries up to two years. If an immigrant has been prosecuted and deported and then sneaks back into the country, he can be charged with a felony punishable by up to two years behind bars. Those with criminal records can get 10 to 20 years.

The federal figures on arrests and prosecutions were collected and provided to the AP by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University in New York.

[lovingmom23]

I don't know who told wama2 this country is free. It has not been a free country in a very long time. Our rights are took from us daily. So no it is not a free country. And the illegals just put a bigger burden on us the tax payers in this country. Besides them taking jobs. And there is enough Americans that would be glad to have the jobs they are holding at the moment. It is time for the Goverment and INS to step up and do something about this mess they have created. Not to meantion it is only a matter of time before terrorist start crossing through Mexico. If Mexicans or whoever want to come to America why not do it leagally? Wake up America before its to late. Stand up for your country. Our kids are being killed daily for our country but yet we can not even protect our borders. What is wrong with this picture?

[lars008-2009]

It's funny all this comments I'm readin posted bout illegal immigrants- what can you possibly do to 12 million people, shoot them?? post stupid comments bout them?? this country has NO CHANCE IN HELL without illegal immigrants.. the one and only reason why america's so succesful's because of all this people from all different places- IF AMRICANS ARE LAZY LIKE THEY ARE let the Immigrants work! After all it's a free land right??!
Posted by wama2 at 01:19 AM : Apr 09, 2007

same arguement was given by the south for slavery pedro..... the USA does not want nor need you...... and sure as heck does not need to go down the slavery road again.....

[anonyma-2009]

Once the illegal immigrants become legal, they won't work for substandard wages -- they won't be able to because they will be paying taxes. So what will be the answer? Let some more illegals in to take the jobs "that Americans and former-illegal-aliens won't do."

We have to enforce the laws, deport the illegals, punish their employers, and take a complete break from immigration. I have become convinced the latter is necessary just because the government has let this issue become such a big mess.

And for all those who are getting ready to howl that I am a racist -- I am all for sending back the illegal Irish who are here. Illegal is illegal.

[markskat]

Why doesn't INS start showing up at these 'demonstrations' where the illegals are demanding the same rights as U.S. citizens? I think it is outrageous that so many come over here and expect us to bow down to them. Life is hard, but when you throw away the rules, life becomes kaos.

[nanamac2]

I would like to know what it is going to take for the US to get stricter on illegal border crossings. Is it going to take Bin Laden crossing into the US through Mexico before they do something to stop the flow? As it is Americans are losing jobs daily to the illegals. Cause all they do is get false Social Security Cards and work under them. Which sooner or later ruins a US citizens life. Not to mention they get stopped all the time for driving with no license or DWI and are charged a small fee and set loose to do it again. Instead of being held for INS and deported like they should be. They are uninsured drivers so when you get in a wreck guess who pays. Its time for some changes in the US and if not soon the American people will be sorry. Because we are the ones who will pay the price. When a police force can be charged for not knowing spanish in America there is definitely something wrong with our country. I use to work in a Motel that alot of illegals stayed in and was told I needed to learn spanish. I have a problem with this I never left America. They are the ones who chose to come here. They should learn our language. And enter legal.

[mo005]

emhawks: I have heard from a friend about what you have been stating. He said the same exact thing you just wrote.

[bill1fj]

Typical of the federal government.
Just can't or wouldn't do its job.
We need some new leaders in the white house and congress next election.
If they ain't doing the job throw them out.
Most of the candidates for president have been hack politicians for years so I don't expect them to change.
We need some new faces and people that will do their jobs.
Thank You

[sclaires]

I say fingerprint all the illegals that are caught and then send them back across the border. If we did not have so d*mn many illegals in this country working, perhaps the unemployment could go down. But, as it is, the illegals are taking jobs away from American citizens which is contributing to the unemployment problem. And, for goodness sake, let's change the Constitution to where illegal who have children born here in the United States are not automatically citizens. That is the way it is in most countries, witness Anna Nicole's baby born in the Bahamas. She is not a citizen of the Bahamas even though she was born there. That is also the way it is with children of military families born out of the United States. They are considered American citizens by the country they were born in and are issued American passports by the US Embassy. I do not see where American citizens should pay for anything to do with illegals.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY :

"The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration."

This was sent to me and now we are finding out what happens when immigration is not controlled. And, let's make sure that the illegals cannot drop babies like rabbits. That is one thing they are doing and WE ARE PAYING FOR THEM.

[omega39-2009]

Lars008, I am no fan of Bush but Ike didn't have the National Restaurant Association on his back.

[lars008-2009]

How Eisenhower solved illegal border crossings from Mexico
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/p09s01-coop.html
George W. Bush isn't the first Republican president to face a full-blown immigration crisis on the US-Mexican border.

Fifty-three years ago, when newly elected Dwight Eisenhower moved into the White House, America's southern frontier was as porous as a spaghetti sieve. As many as 3 million illegal migrants had walked and waded northward over a period of several years for jobs in California, Arizona, Texas, and points beyond.

President Eisenhower cut off this illegal traffic. He did it quickly and decisively with only 1,075 United States Border Patrol agents - less than one-tenth of today's force. The operation is still highly praised among veterans of the Border Patrol.

Although there is little to no record of this operation in Ike's official papers, one piece of historic evidence indicates how he felt. In 1951, Ike wrote a letter to Sen. William Fulbright (D) of Arkansas. The senator had just proposed that a special commission be created by Congress to examine unethical conduct by government officials who accepted gifts and favors in exchange for special treatment of private individuals.