Few Arrestees Are Found To Be Illegal Immigrants

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: WP

Fewer than 2 percent of people charged with crimes in Prince William County since the well-publicized crackdown on illegal immigration began in March have turned out to be undocumented, Police Chief Charlie T. Deane told county supervisors yesterday.

Deane provided a status report on the first six months of the county's illegal immigration enforcement program, which generated nationwide attention. He told the supervisors that police questioned 626 illegal immigrants in all. Of those questioned, 341 were arrested, 196 were released with no charges and 89 were charged and released on summonses. Ten others were determined to be in the country legally.

"I'd expect those numbers to go up as officers get more comfortable with the policy," Deane said.

Separately, the supervisors released a citizen survey on the policy. About 60 percent of residents are satisfied with how police are carrying out the illegal immigration policy, according to the county's annual citizen satisfaction survey. Fourteen percent of those surveyed are dissatisfied; 7 percent oppose the policy, and 17 percent provided no opinion.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/09/09/ST2008090903451.html

[Arctic Dave]

1. I see law suits. lots and lots of law suits.

Can you say unlawful arrest and detention.

[slackmaster]

2. Prince William County is a long way from the border

The situation in southern California is very different.

[NikolaC]

3. Granted

However, I live in PWC. For the most part, it is a good place to live. There is a good sized immigrant population here and it is frustrating the way that they tend to be singled out. The vast majority are hard working, good people who bust their butts to take care of their families just like everyone else here. For a long time this was a majority Repub county (which is slowly, painfully, but surely changing, thank God), so it was no surprise that they picked up on the anti-immigrant crap and ran with it for political purposes. I am glad that the proponents of this ridiculous law have egg on their faces now. It's just a shame that so many people were harassed because of it and I hope that they file some lawsuits to hold these people accountable, though I know it won't make up for what they and their families have been through.

Edited to add that I question how that survey was done and who was asked to participate.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. "It demonstrates the exodus of illegal immigrant criminals leaving the county," Stewart said

Or, maybe, it demonstrates that the hysteria about criminal illegal immigrants is unfounded as few criminals, being lazy and unmotivated in general or they would not be criminals in the first place, go to the trouble of smuggling themselves into the country, risking dying in a desert crossing or being captured by border patrol who might then turn them over to Mexican authorities. It's a good bet the criminals fare much better preying on those who ARE making the border crossings - robbery, rape, and murder of illegal immigrants crossing the border is more than common.

I doubt that 1% of those crossing the border do so with criminal intent. Most immigrants picked up by the police are guilty of traffic crimes only - I don't think they crossed the border saying "I'm going to prey on the gullible americans by driving without a license!"

[robcon]

5. You mean that Lou Dobbs is a serial liar and exaggerator?

Gee, I thought he was the real deal!!!! :sarcasm:

[libodem]

6. I hope the apples

rot off the trees. I wish the farm workers would go the way of the worker bees and could just abandon the fields. So invaluable and so underrated.

[kirby]

7. "police questioned 626 illegal immigrants"???

How could they question 626 'illegal' immigrants if only 89 were charged? If only 89 were charged, how can you call the others illegal if they are not? The whole story is confusing. It sounds like 626 people were suspected of being illegal and were questioned. The 2 percent number sounds like of all total arrests for any crimes, 2% were illegals.

[Peace Patriot]

8. We have a choice (but maybe not): fascist police state or free and open country?

There are risks to being a free and open country, where "perps" are human beings first, with FULL human rights, innocent until PROVEN guilty, and the state cannot interfere with them without really good probable cause (not just the color of their skin). It means some people--generally poor and desperate--will come here illegally, seeking jobs. They are not bad people. They are not criminals. They are generally VERY well behaved, good workers, family oriented, worthy people. So we live with that! That's one "price" of a free and open country. It means that some actual criminals go uncaught. That is the risk. That is what being a free country MEANS--that you can't bust down doors, beat people up, torture or coerce confessions, plant evidence (cuz you 'KNOW' they're guilty), do general roundup arrests of types of people, detain people without good cause, detain people without speedy arraignment on charges in open courts, railroad the accused by means of rigged procedures, lack of or poor legal representation, and be constantly stopping people at police "checkpoints" to ASK FOR THEIR GODDAMN PAPERS, etc., etc.

We don't seem to have a choice, right now. Our Constitution has been shredded in the White House, and the cops have free reign. They can do anything they like to us, and if we want to spend the next ten years, after an illegal or brutal arrest--or the rest of our lives--in trying to prosecute lawsuits against them for their UNCONSTITUTIONAL actions--we can do that, for now, anyway, and, if we have the stamina and the bucks, maybe eventually win something. That is our ONLY defense--but that is now in jeopardy as well, because of Bush junta appointments to the courts.

Our country--by no decision of its people, really--IS a fascist police state. We are a "free and open country" no more.

Fascists steal our elections. Fascists control the 'news' media. Fascists fatten themselves on police-state and military contracts. Fascists have shredded our civil rights and liberties, and have undone the American Revolution. Fascists rule. So, just make sure you're, a) white, b) don't have a stray joint rolling around the floor of your car, and c) have your "papers' in order--or you, too, will get the fascist boot on your neck, and find yourself in a fascist prison for ten years, or "detained" for six months without trial because you couldn't prove you were born here!

In BushWorld, you are A CRIMINAL UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT--with the cards stacked against you, as to proving it.

If you want to pay that price--the price of our revolution--for not having "illegal immigrants" in your community, or for a fantasized 100% security against crime, then you are undeserving of democracy.

Fascism adds BIG theft--theft of our entire public treasury--to lesser theft. Fascism adds BIG, MASSIVE murder--100,000 innocent people slaughtered in one night of "shock and awe" bombing in Iraq--to individual, 'street crime' murders. Fascism adds TORTURE to the lesser brutalities and inhumanities inflicted on prisoners. Fascism uses "illegal immigration" as an excuse--a mode--to inure you to mass arrests, to detention without charge, to having no rights. It seeks to create a culture of sheep who cower at the Big Boot, and, to that end, "illegal immigrations" is used to net (arrest, harass, bedevil) minor drug users, minor thieves, speeding ticket scofflaws, people with suspended licenses, and, if you're the wrong color, tail light violators, and seatbelt non-wearers, or even completely legal vehicles with drivers with spotless records, because they can. That is the point. They can. They take this shit out on innocent housemaids from Guatemala, or family-loving campesinos from Mexico--driven from their farms by Monsanto or Chevron--and here to trim rich peoples' lawns and roses, and send their unfair pay back home. But this shit is ALSO intended as a lesson for you and me--directly, if we unlucky enough to get "netted," or indirectly, by hearing about it.

The lesson? FEAR. The ultimate fascist tool.

If we want to throw this off--and generate American Revolution II--I'd suggest starting with the Corpo/fascist controlled voting machines.