Patterico's Pontifications

1/1/2008

More Immigration Enforcement that Works: Operation Streamline

Filed under: Immigration — DRJ @ 4:27 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Sara Carter of the Washington Times recently published an article detailing the success of Operation Streamline in cutting border crossings near Laredo, Texas:

A strict policy to arrest, prosecute and jail illegal aliens who cross into the U.S. has shown significant success in reducing crossings and crime along the Texas border, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials said this month. The first 45 days of Operation Streamline — a collaborative effort of local, state and federal agencies in Texas — has resulted in decreased illegal border crossings and crime since its implementation Oct. 31 compared with last year’s numbers, said Laredo Border Patrol Sector chief patrol agent Carlos X. Carrillo.

“As more and more illegal aliens are prosecuted and incarcerated under Streamline-Laredo, the word is spreading quickly that illegal entry has its consequences,” Mr. Carrillo said. “Those found guilty of violating this statute face penalties that can include fines and up to six months in prison.”

During the first 45-day period of Operation Streamline in the Laredo sector only 2,833 illegal entries were reported, compared with last fiscal year, when 4,424 illegal entries were reported during a similar period. The operation covers a 60-mile span along the U.S.-Mexico border at Laredo. Mr. Carrillo also noted that there was an overall reduction of 33 percent in apprehensions along the entire 171-mile Laredo border corridor.”

Operation Streamline not only reduced border crossings, it apparently reduced crime in adjacent border communities. For instance, in Laredo, Texas:

The Laredo Police Department’s crime data for Oct. 31-Dec. 15 indicates a year-to-date reduction in reported crimes of approximately 30 percent, and a 36 percent decrease in major crimes during the 45-day Streamline-Laredo reporting period. “As a result of this partnership, the positive effects of Streamline-Laredo resonate deep within the community,” Mr. Carrillo said.

And in Del Rio, Texas:

“Operation Streamline II was first adopted in the Del Rio, Texas, sector in December 2005. It focused on high-traffic smuggling corridors along the 205 miles of the Rio Grande that divide the sector from Mexico. Since its implementation, the crime rate has been reduced by 76 percent and illegal border crossings are at the lowest numbers since Border Patrol began keeping records in 1972, [Texas Republican Congressman John] Culberson added.”

The success of Operation Streamline – described as a “zero tolerance program” – has led the Border Patrol to expand its use into the Tucson, Arizona, sector and ultimately into other border areas:

Operation Streamline will be adopted next month by law-enforcement agencies in the Border Patrol’s Tucson, Ariz., sector, [Congressman] Culberson added. Mr. Culberson, who has publicly advocated for the strict border policy, said he hopes the operation will be adopted along the entire U.S.-Mexico border. “I expect to see zero tolerance implemented in the Tucson sector in January, and my next target is the Brownsville Sector [in Texas],” Mr. Culberson said.”

For so many years, I’ve heard that we can’t do anything to stop illegal immigration and I was almost convinced. But stories like this and others – where the US increases border security, employer sanctions, and similar enforcement actions – convinces me that if border security makes it harder to get to America and if American employers aren’t hiring, many illegal immigrants won’t come.

In other words, enforcement works.

— DRJ

9 Responses to “More Immigration Enforcement that Works: Operation Streamline”

  1. “…the word is spreading quickly that illegal entry has its consequences,…”

    Once again, an iron rule of economics prevails. When you “tax” an activity, you get less of it.

    All we need to prevail, are politicians with back-bones.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  2. Great news on the crime rate reduction. The usual reports of reduced crossings as measured by fewer arrests usually seems a bit contrived. You put Sgt. Shultz (I see nothing!) on the border and he’ll tell you illegal immigration stopped when it is actually worse.

    Wesson (d8d88d)

  3. I had an immigrant try to get me to illegally sponsor them. I taped conversations passed on to ICE and was surprised that person is still in our country with all the evidence i provided to ICE

    Blake (e29b76)

  4. the word is spreading quickly that illegal entry has its consequences,” Mr. Carrillo said.

    Carrillo is the idiot who said it wasn’t the job of Border Patrol to stop illegal aliens a few months ago. I guess arrests are way up if he finally arrested someone.

    All of the news stories in the coming year will be claiming that the immigration situation is getting better, self deportation, and other lies. The purpose is to not enflame the issue during the political season.

    j curtis (8bcca6)

  5. Unfortunately, this site continues to deal with this subject in a way that isn’t as effective as it could be. Simply saying that enforcement works will get you nowhere. You need to backtrack and find those public figures who say it doesn’t work, and then work to discredit them. Once many of those who are public opponents of enforcement have been marginalized, we can actually have enforcement.

    TLB (08032f)

  6. Shot on site I’d bet remains a better deterrent!

    Figures can lie and liars can figure.

    I hope we are actually doing something useful, but filling our jails is not the way to accomplish the goal. Just concentrates them while we continue to feed and house them.

    TC (1cf350)

  7. And wait until some liberal activist judge declared it unconstitutonal and that jerk judge will be from the infamous 9th curcut court

    krazy kagu (aef0eb)

  8. Fortunately, the 9th circuit doesn’t include Texas.

    LarryD (feb78b)


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