COMMENTARY: The tragedy of America's failed immigration system | Religion News Service

COMMENTARY: The tragedy of America's failed immigration system | Religion News Service



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The United States loves data, but I hope it won’t be judged by its damning statistics:

• The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has deported close to 2 million people in the past five years, an average of more than 400,000 persons a year. How many families were wrenched apart?
• The U.S. Office of Management and Budget reports that the budget for the U.S. Border Patrol has increased tenfold since 1993, from $363 million to $3.5 billion. Given that the undocumented population has tripled since 1986 to 11 to 12 million people today, by economic standards that’s a pretty weak return on investment.
• The Department of Homeland Security reports that as of February 2014, almost 700 miles of pedestrian and vehicle fencing has been completed along the U.S.-Mexico border. Perhaps that’s a boon for the confinement industry.
• The Congressional Research Service reports that 208,939 unauthorized immigrants were prosecuted as criminals under Operation Streamline from 2005 to the end of fiscal year 2012. They are sentenced in “group” trials that provide apprehended immigrants few legal rights. Aren’t guaranteed legal rights one of the hallmarks of our democracy?
• In fiscal year 2012, the Department of Homeland Security incarcerated more than 477,000 people, a record. Yet since 2003, about 2.5 million immigrants have been detained in the U.S. detention system. Surely they did not comprise 2.5 million threats to the U.S.

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Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Photo courtesy Bob Roller, Catholic News Service

The data shows that our nation’s effort to cope with undocumented persons does not work. It is costly, most especially, I fear, for the soul of a nation.

(Sister Mary Ann Walsh is the director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

KRE/AMB END WALSH

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Drew Law Office, PLLC -- Immigration Attorneys, NH -- (603) 644-3739www.drewpllc.com

House Democrats File Petition To Force Immigration Vote | ThinkProgress

House Democrats File Petition To Force Immigration Vote | ThinkProgress

My two Representatives here in NH are supporting getting immigration reform done! Are yours? Call them and make sure they do!


With only 199 House Democratic members, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) knew before, during, and after a Democratic leadership-led press conference on the steps of the Capitol that a procedural motion aimed at forcing a vote on comprehensive immigration reform would fail to garner the required 218 signatures needed to send an immigration bill to the House floor without first being passed out of committee. That discharge petition requires a bipartisan miracle and House Republicans have been unwilling to budge. But the Democrat-led effort is intended to call out Republicans who have called immigration the “800-pound gorilla,” but have done little to come up with a solution.



 Drew Law Office, PLLC -- Immigration Lawyers NH -- (603) 644-3739 www.immigrationNH.com

Nature of Charge in New Filings Seeking Removal Orders through February 2014

Nature of Charge in New Filings Seeking Removal Orders through February 2014



and this from ABCNEWS



An Oval Office meeting with three Latino lawmakers brought about a late-night announcement from the White House on Thursday: Obama is directing his homeland security chief, Jeh Johnson, to review America's deportation program, with an eye toward finding more humane ways to enforce the law without contravening it.



~ Perhaps this has something to do with the administration's belief that they should focus their prosecutorial resources on removing serious criminals who pose a threat to the communities. That is what they say at least. Those of us who practice in immigration have come to know that either the administration leadership has no control over the bureaucracy - or they are being dishonest about their priorities. If you follow the link to TRAC the charts there clearly show that the percentage of persons placed in removal proceedings based on criminal activity is down to 12% of the total. It has never been higher than 17% during the Obama administration even though they have put record numbers of people in deportation.



The percentage was only slightly higher under the tenure of George W. Bush. What does this mean? It means that despite the Obama administration's protestations otherwise and the success of their DACA program -- they still are mostly deporting people who do not have serious criminal records. Perhaps that will change or perhaps the threat that it might change will move Congress to act on immigration reform so that they can deny the Obama administration the chance to lock up the votes of new citizens who still have undocumented family members fearing deportation.







 Drew Law Office, PLLC -- Immigration Lawyers NH -- (603) 644-3739 www.immigrationNH.com

SXSW Rosario Dawson on Immigration Reform

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