Patterico's Pontifications

1/29/2009

Obama’s Homeland Security Secretary: Deport the Criminals First

Filed under: Deport the Criminals First,Immigration — Patterico @ 7:29 pm



Regular readers know that it’s been a pet issue of mine for quite some time to Deport the Criminals First. My point is simple: regardless of how you feel about illegal immigration, everyone can agree that the least desirable illegals — and thus the ones we should be deporting first — are the criminals. So once a criminal has served his time, he should be deported. Other than securing the border, ICE should make this its absolute highest priority — lack of resources is not an excuse unless 100% of ICE’s non-border-enforcement resources are already committed to this task.

I’m pleased to see that Obama’s new Homeland Security Secretary says she agrees:

If you’re a criminal and you’re not entitled to be in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wants you out of the country. Napolitano wants what she calls “criminal aliens” off American streets. She is looking at existing immigration enforcement programs to see if taxpayers are getting the most bang for their buck.

“That sounds very simple, but it’s historically not been done,” Napolitano said, speaking to reporters and senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials Thursday.

About 113,000 criminals who were in the U.S. illegally were deported last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said. The agency estimates there are now as many as 450,000 criminals in federal, state and local detention centers who are in the country illegally.

Napolitano said she wants to improve data-sharing among local, state and federal facilities. So far, there are jails in 26 counties across the country with computer systems that can talk instantly with immigration systems.

The goal, Napolitano said, is for federal immigration officials to know whether an inmate is in the country illegally immediately after he is processed into a detention facility. After the criminal serves his or her sentence, immigration officials can be ready to deport that person right away.

This is a no-brainer — yet as Ms. Napolitano says, it hasn’t happened . . . with tragic results, as I have documented here again and again.

Let’s be clear: talk is not action. But this is good talk.

So make it happen.

Thanks to Chuck P.

37 Responses to “Obama’s Homeland Security Secretary: Deport the Criminals First”

  1. And yes, I understand that illegal aliens are already criminals. Please. There is still a distinction between hardworking illegals whose only crime is immigration-related, versus illegals who are violent thugs.

    And no, I don’t completely trust Obama to carry through on this. But there may be a certain Nixon-to-China aspect that helps him get done what Bush couldn’t or wouldn’t. I don’t care about credit. I just want it done.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  2. Rhetoric is more important to the Dems than actually doing it. I suspect this racist will get thrown under the bus.

    JD (aba8e3)

  3. They’ll have to impanel a blue-ribbon commission to study the various aspects of the problem, and to draft possible action plans, that will have to be distributed throughout the various Departments, Bureaus, Agencies, and Administrations for input and/or modifications.
    They should have an action-plan fleshed-out and ready for implementation in 42-45 months, tops!

    AD (7d0655)

  4. […] – but credit where it will hopefully be due: his Homeland Security Secretary claims she’ll Deport the Criminals First. That’s progress. I hope she’ll do it. It would be a nice […]

    Something to like about the Obama administration? : Pursuing Holiness (e6211d)

  5. Patterico – Where’s DRJ? Hopefully just a short break?

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  6. Glad you cleared up the fact that every alien who didn’t come in through legal means is a criminal.

    Several states are bankrupt for no reason other than supporting millions of criminals. Providing them everything necessary for life and letting them lay on their a** drinking, doing drugs, and having more children will eventually bankrupt the entire country. That’s common sense, something sorely missing in our government.

    Scrapiron (dda662)

  7. Obama made like he was going to pull a Bill Clinton and be more of a moderate than advertised. We’re finding out that was false.

    So forgive me if I don’t put a lot of credence into what is said.

    OTOH, these guys are the poster children against illegal immigration. Everytime someone trots out a story designed to make illegals looked picked on by police or rednecks, people counter with the hardened criminals. This will take that away.

    Not that we shouldn’t focus there, but its only a partial solution.

    jpm100 (93e061)

  8. Napolitano is a gift that keeps on giving. Arizona was ecstatic to see her go. Her deficit is $1.4 billion; not in California’s league, of course but big enough. She would never have survived the next election. Now she is going to deport a few illegals, too.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  9. Doesn’t all this “sharing” depend on big city mayors buying in to this program? What is the chance that that will happen?

    JVW (4ecab1)

  10. JVW – You and JD are right. She’s not going to last long making bold statements like this, angering sanctuary cities and chunks of the base. They’ll have to muzzle her or get rid of her.

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  11. PAtterico,

    Before you get excited – I think she was talking about Republicans….

    EricPWJohnson (852352)

  12. Illegal aliens broke the law. But I consider coming to the United States illegally (and then acting in a legitmate manner) far less onerous than Tim Geithner not paying his taxes and signing forms saying he knew he had to pay taxes (and keeping the money his employer gave him to pay taxes).

    I agree, get rid of felon illegals, followed by misdemeanor illegals, and then the remaining illegal aliens should be given some sort of process to show us why they should be allowed to stay. Any such plan only works if enforcement is made real.

    Joe (17aeff)

  13. Deporting the tens of thousands of aliens in state prisons is easy in theory, but when it comes to out neighbors to the south we have to insure that (a) they accept them and (b) the imprison them. Releasing thousands of undoucmented felons south of the border where they can simply make their way back is not a solution.

    JamesPh. (e61829)

  14. Patterico – Where’s DRJ? Hopefully just a short break?

    It appears not.

    I don’t really want to talk about why on the blog, because I find it very upsetting and I am continually telling myself that lashing out at the party responsible (not DRJ or anyone in her family, of course; as a regular reader you probably have a pretty good guess who I’m talking about) is not a good idea. I’m continually tempted to say something I shouldn’t.

    But yes, she appears to be gone for good, although she and I of course stay in touch. You can e-mail me if you like for more details.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  15. Wow, Patter-EE-koh, is very serious about the DRJ incident.

    Well well.

    Obama über alles!!!!! (48dd5e)

  16. OUA, please remember that DRJ is just about the Patron Saint of Patterico. If she is really gone, I am very, very saddened by the news.

    And if the reason why is due to idiotic behavior by someone here, well, I hope that kharma has its way with the person responsible.

    DRJ’s post were a vital part of this blog, and very valuable.

    Eric Blair (e92b94)

  17. She really is gone.

    Eric Blair, your comments about her are 100% correct.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  18. Patterico – That is disappointing to hear and a loss for the blog.

    She will be missed greatly. She has many admirers here and I hope that she knows that.

    daleyrocks (5d22c0)

  19. She can’t leave – she’s the only one that understands me….

    Seriously….

    Look, she was getting hammered by trolls – I should have waded in but the 12 hour time difference gets in the way – that and dodging HAMAS.

    DRJ cough three times if you are reading this – come back – hell sock puppet – have fun

    Remember when I said kick back – not a criticism – I was seeing commentator burnout

    You are the patron saint of blogging – and fair – very fair to those who disagree with you

    A sign of a true christian

    EricPWJohnson (852352)

  20. Senator McCain and President Bush had a very crazy attempt at triangulating the Mexican vote. Mexicans didn’t even vote for them; they voted for President Obama. It is a good thing that Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano talks about deporting the criminal aliens.

    The Republican brand is a basket case. The damage Frist, Trott, Gingrich and DeLay and all those bozos did to the legitimate philosophy of fiscal conservatism will take a decade to repair.

    It is a good thing that President Obama lets happen the deportation of criminal illegals, and lets the border fence construction continue at its rapid pace.

    Wesson (3ab0b8)

  21. There is a “ginormous” (to borrow from the yoot of America) difference between disagreeing vigorously and acting like a braying jackass. I have always felt that posting on someone else’s blog was like a visit in their living room: manners are important. To be sure, many people disagree with that point of view, and that is fine.

    When I disagree with posters here, I have always been treated kindly or at least tolerantly. Mainly because I don’t act like a jackass toward others.

    Other people like to sling mud, and they get mud slung back at them.

    DRJ always brought out the best in almost everyone here. Her loss to this blog is significant—it certainly is to me.

    Again, I hope that kharma is everything it is claimed to be. And so much more.

    EPWJ, the last line of your post is very true, and has nothing to do with DRJ’s or anyone else’s faith.

    Eric Blair (e92b94)

  22. There is someone out there that deserves not nice things to happen to them.

    JD (aba8e3)

  23. Eric Blair

    Should I have said Judeo-Christian – (its usually whatt I mean to put)

    DRJ

    Come back or I will resort to the MOST PAINFULL amateur poetry in every single blog post until you realize that you cannot let the torture of your fellow bloggers go on

    I’m SERIOUSly Delirously Delusional

    As Churchill once said

    Never never never never never give up

    EricPWJohnson (852352)

  24. Hmm…It’s nice to hear some good news coming out of the Obama Administration, even if it is just rhetoric. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

    By the way, I’ve just started a new blog that will be highlighting the dangerous advances of the secular progressive movement (pro-gay “rights”, pro-abortion, anti-religious freedoms, etc).

    We’re looking to build a solid group of conservatives who’ll frequent our site regularly and contribute to some good discussions. The site gets updated daily with breaking news, so you’ll want to check back often, or you can just sign up for our News Feed.

    If you’ll add us to your list of links we’ll gladly add you to ours. Our blog is called Religion and Morality.

    Thanks!

    Chris Schandevel (cbb148)

  25. EPWJ: I just meant that DRJ walked the walk. Lots of folks claim that they are “Christian.”

    JD: tru freakin’ dat.

    Eric Blair (e92b94)

  26. It is crushing to hear that DRJ is no longer commenting here. She is an excellent person who commanded and deserved everyone’s respect. I hope you are just taking an indefinite break DRJ. I along with many others will miss you greatly.

    EdWood (adc576)

  27. As I said in the wrong thread earlier, when I find out who caused this injustice to be inflicted upon everyone, you will be the cause of me getting banned from here.

    JD (aba8e3)

  28. What? What happened with DRJ? I love DRJ.

    MayBee (27ec75)

  29. If this is because of one of those dirty little goat-buggering trolls ….

    JD (aba8e3)

  30. Eric PW Johnson:

    The kind words are appreciated, but the promises of persistent nagging are actually a bit counterproductive, I suspect.

    Patterico (a3493b)

  31. Kharma, JD. Just think about kharma.

    And Patterico is right: we should change the subject. But perhaps we could have a “good luck DRJ” post from everyone, courtesy of Patterico.

    Eric Blair (e92b94)

  32. 30

    Such is the depth of our dispare

    EricPWJohnson (852352)

  33. But perhaps we could have a “good luck DRJ” post from everyone, courtesy of Patterico.

    And so you shall.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  34. […] More here:  Patterico’s Pontifications » bObama/b’s Homeland Security Secretary b…/b […]

    Patterico’s Pontifications » bObama/b’s Homeland Security Secretary b…/b | Danielc blog (e9d782)

  35. I read an article recently regarding the border fence that quoted Napolitano as saying, “If we build a 50 foot wall, they will just use 51 foot ladders.” That did not inspire my confidence in her.

    Stan Switek (7cfd24)

  36. Wonder how that will go over in all those democrap ‘sanctuary cities’? Of course DHS might issue rules restricting security funding to having cities provide citizenship information together with conviction reports (couldn’t do it for arrests cause too much outrage, but for convictions it should be imposeable requirement). You will see Nancy Peelousi’s head and the heads of the CBC explode (and hopefully Mike Bloomberg’s head too) if DHS were to do that. Hope and Change, amen.

    eaglewingz08 (c46606)

  37. Let them serve their time at Gitmo!

    TC (0b9ca4)


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