Del Rio Adopts ‘Catch And Detain’ Policy on Border
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Jay Root, Houston & Texas News, May 27, 2008
Many in Congress are counting on border walls to discourage illegal immigration and dope smuggling from Mexico. Here in Del Rio, authorities are using jail cells instead.
The ever-expanding Val Verde County jail is filled with would-be yardmen and maids, immigrants awaiting deportation. They’ve been caught in a law enforcement dragnet known as “Operation Streamline,” a zero-tolerance program that began here and has since spread both east and west along the Mexican border.
Critics of the lock-’em-up approach question the skyrocketing costs, complain of poor conditions inside the detention facilities, and predict that ultimately the efforts won’t stop immigrants and drugs from making their way north.
But supporters say the approach is reducing crime and discouraging immigrants from trying to cross into the United States. The number of illegal immigrants caught in the Border Patrol’s Del Rio Sector is at its lowest level since the early 1970s.
“Enforcement works,” said Val Verde County Sheriff D’Wayne Jernigan. “We’re definitely seeing a reduction in crime throughout the border area and a reduction in the number of aliens running loose in our community.”
{snip}
While the state prisoner population has remained flat at about 70 to 80 a day on average, the numbers serving time for immigration and drug offenses have skyrocketed, officials say.
‘Prisonville’ booming
Two brand new prisons specializing in federal detainees are also rising up along the Texas-Mexico border south of here—a 654-bed unit being erected in Eagle Pass and a 1,500-bed jail nearing completion in Laredo.
{snip}
(Posted on May 28, 2008)
Comments
Note to all Americans: Notice that simple enforcement of existing laws works in a visible and immediate manner.
“Enforcement works,” said Val Verde County Sheriff D’Wayne Jernigan. “We’re definitely seeing a reduction in crime throughout the border area and a reduction in the number of aliens running loose in our community.”
Do you think any of us understand this problem any better than Sheriff Jernigan? The system we have will work if anyone has the guts to just do what the rule of law requires.
Posted by Enough at 9:26 PM on May 28
“Book ‘em, Dano…”
Posted by at 9:45 PM on May 28
I promise you, if detention centers were built in close proximity to the border and those apprehended were given 6 months for their first offense, illegal immigration over the southern border would come to a screeching halt!!
In addition,these detention centers could be cheaply maintained by inmates, with their cleaning, maintainance, and construction skills, as well as supported by goods produced by the offenders.
After all,they are coming here to do the jobs we won’t do, and most of us certainly don’t want to do prison work, so this is a win-win for all concerned!!
This is the absolutely most intelligent, cost effective, realistic and economical response I can think of to this problem.
Sheriff Jernigan, YOU are an American hero!!!!!!!
Posted by James at 11:12 PM on May 28
What do they want, a pat on the back?
Posted by at 11:25 PM on May 28
Only an idiot would not realize enforcement works, unfortunately, the halls of congress are overrun w/idiots, our politicans no longer consider the will of the people when writing or voting, the lobbyists, special interests groups are now in control of the government and it is broken, very broken.
Posted by abc at 6:14 AM on May 29
Here’s the solution:
1. The United States Must Secure Its Borders.
Border Security Is The Basic Responsibility Of A Sovereign Nation And An Urgent Requirement Of Our National Security. Let’s remember that this should be done in a manner consistent with protecting the liberties of United States citizens to freely travel abroad and return. This isn’t an opportunity for the Federal government to exercise authoritarian control over its citizens detaining them for bench warrants and unpaid traffic tickets for example.
2. We Must Hold Employers Accountable For The Workers They Hire.
No Temporary Worker Program is needed. We have 40,000,000 citizens in this country living below the poverty line and the magnet of jobs and free social care must end for non-citizens.
3. We Must Bring Undocumented Workers Already In The Country Out Of The Shadows.
.. and send them home. HOW we do this; however, is extremely important and needs to be done in a manner recognizing human rights. Consider asking elected representatives to exercise foreign aid and expertise to both ease the transition of homeward bound illegals and influence origin countries for positive change.
We’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars policing Iraq and hundreds of billions of dollars in social costs just for illegal aliens in this country. It is a bargain to spend a few billion a year influencing governments like Mexico which failed to provide for their own people to finally take on that responsibility and working with them to build the expertise necessary to see positive change occur. It’s money well spent, something we should take seriously, and we will save much more than that many times over once the illegals have left.
4. We Must Promote Assimilation Into Our Society By Teaching New Immigrants English And American Values.
5. End Chain Migration and Restore Legal Immigration Levels to Conservative Norms.
6. Don’t EVER let it happen again!
Posted by Unemployed WASP at 2:25 PM on May 29
Our immigration laws are only being enforced in small ways, illegal immigration has gone unchecked for far too long, in some areas it is too late, L.A. is now classified as a 3rd world city, w/taxpayers supporting illegals.
Posted by tall one at 5:58 AM on May 30