WyBlog

Obama to Immigration Agents: Don't catch illegal aliens

New "guidance" issued by the Obama Administration has many career Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents scratching their heads. Assistant Secretary John Morton, who heads ICE, issued a memo on June 29^th regarding the apprehension, detention and removal of illegal immigrants.

Listed as the agency's top priority, according to the memo, are illegal immigrants who pose a danger to national security or a risk to public safety; those convicted of violent crimes, both felons and repeat offenders; those older than 16 who participated in organized criminal gangs; and those with outstanding criminal warrants.

In other words, terrorists and drug dealers.

Described in the memo as lesser priorities are foreign nationals caught crossing the border illegally or using phony immigration documents to gain entry, and those identified as fugitives after failing to show up for immigration or deportation hearings.

Until they mow down a nun while driving drunk, then I guess they're bumped up to the top of the list.

And in case the "guidance" wasn't clear enough:

One high-ranking ICE official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the memo publicly, said agents at a major field office who inquired were told, "Arresting and deporting aliens was administrative work, and that as ICE criminal investigators, they were not going to do administrative duties."

So, let me get this straight, it's beneath the dignity of the guys entrusted with enforcing the border to, you know, actually enforce the border.

It's not like we don't already have plenty of law enforcement agencies tasked with tracking and arresting terrorists. And the drug war has effectively turned most police departments into heavily miltarized fiefdoms which would make most third world strongmen green with envy. Sure another set of eyes is always welcome, but the Border Patrol shouldn't be ignoring what in a sane world ought to be their primary mission.

In effect the ICE memo is an engraved invitation to every Pedro, Juan, and Maria from south of the border to come on up, the door is open! And it probably says as much in the Spanish version Felipe Calderon is busy handing out on the streets of Mexico City.

Posted at 10:00 by Chris Wysocki   [/immigration]   Comments | Archived | Perm Link |
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