Deport the Criminals First (and Only?)
[Posted by Karl]
Pres. Obama’s re-election campaign finds a new gear:
In a move that could shake up the U.S. immigration system, the Department of Homeland Security is going to begin reviewing all 300,000 pending deportation cases in federal immigration courts to determine which individuals meet specific criteria for removal and to focus on “our highest priorities.”
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said the review will enhance public safety. “Immigration judges will be able to more swiftly adjudicate high priority cases, such as those involving convicted felons,” Napolitano wrote Thursday in a letter to assistant majority leader Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and 21 other senators including Indiana Republican Richard Lugar.
***
But the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which advocates changing policies to decrease the number of immigrants coming to the United States, said in a statement on its website that the action by the Obama administration “amounts to an administrative amnesty and a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s immigration policy without approval by Congress.”
Patterico has long championed the idea of “Deport the Criminals First.” However, a review of the June ICE memo (.pdf) detaling the new policy makes clear that the prosecutorial discretion involved is not limited to prioritizing deportations, but decisions to arrest, settle or dismiss proceedings, defer action, grant parole, etc. Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times describes the new policy as “virtually stopping deporting students who are in the U.S. illegally, taking steps even as Congress has resisted passing the DREAM Act.” Sen. Durbin issued a statement adding that when reviews of individual cases result in cases being closed, those individuals “will be able to apply for certain immigration benefits, including work authorization.”
So… if not backdoor amnesty, a big step in that direction. Sweet, to her credit, duly notes that the move came as Hispanic groups have been stepping up complaints about Obama’s illegal immigration policy.
–Karl
The polling must have gotten significantly worse if he’s actually paying attention to elements of his base.
Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (52c114) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:32 pmObama knows he needs to rile up your tancredo types if hispanics are going to be even half-heartedly inspired to vote for his sorry socialist ass
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:36 pmI think he has given up on re-election, and is just doing as much damage as possible before he leaves office.
orcadrvr (04bb24) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:36 pmThis is the most politically suicidal thing he could have done, other than taking an extended vacation as the economy collapses in on itself.
He just doesn’t care anymore. God willing, he will drag the rest of the ticket under as well.
Thank you Karl for this. The quick take on Obama’s action looks like he is doing something reasonable, listening to our host. The fine print reveals he is doing anything but.
MD in Philly (16129d) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:43 pmNot surprising.
Sweet, to her credit, duly notes that the move came as Hispanic groups have been stepping up complaints about Obama’s illegal immigration policy.
Clearly. But still surprising from the LAT:
The Obama administration said it will review the cases of 300,000 illegal immigrants currently in deportation proceedings to identify “low-priority” offenders — including the elderly, crime victims and people who have lived in the U.S. since childhood — with an eye toward allowing them to stay.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the review as the Obama administration has sought to counter criticism that it has been too harsh in its deportation policies. By launching the case-by-case review, officials said they are refocusing deportation efforts on convicted felons and other “public safety threats.”
Dana (4eca6e) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:48 pmImagine! If the American people had a leader that cared about their well-being half as much as he cared about illegal aliens. Now, that would be an AMERICAN DREAM.
Naw, never happen.
ropelight (9d80b8) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:51 pmI’m sure some cowards in congress are going to be thrilled he is using DHS to front this move which saves them from having to go on record themselves and vote on the Dream Act. But surely many in congress from both sides of the aisle will see this for what it is–yet another slight and attack on the legislative branch. Will they just acquiesce quietly on this and let the WH make new laws/re-interpret existing laws at will? Especially when the polling so clearly does not support it and the president is so weak?
elissa (69edf1) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:54 pmOrrin Hatch lurved him some dreamy dreamy dream act until he began to quiver and tremble at the thought of losing his office what he has held so long and fully expected to hold until he died just like his super best friend ted kennedy what he wrote a pretty song for
sing it brother Orrin!
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 8/18/2011 @ 5:59 pmDana– dailyrocks’ favorite, Dick Durbin, and creepy creepy Rep. Luis Gutierrez are behind this. There’ve been all sorts of organized protests and roadblock chains to prevent deportation buses from moving in Chicago recently.
elissa (69edf1) — 8/18/2011 @ 6:02 pmGotta love that hagula Maxine Waters.
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/18/2011 @ 7:02 pmI wonder also if Obama isn’t also very keenly aware that inflaming the people what get inflamed by immigration stuff is probably not something Mr. Governor Perry is super eager to have happen, especially when he mostly just wants to talk about jobs and growth
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 8/18/2011 @ 7:56 pmelissa – That’s right. They stuff the churches full of those undocumented peoples around here.
I did get some new T-shirts to wear around town, good links at IMAO, but still need to be careful in this burg.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 8/18/2011 @ 8:04 pmLet’s keep knocking out steps on the wage ladder in a time of high unemployment; great idea. That will work wonderfully for entry level job seekers, working and middle class and the working poor. This is another step to creating a ruling class and dependent serfs, with a shrinking overtaxed middle class squeezed more every day.It’s hard to take The One seriously when he winks at businesses that hire illegals over citizens full well knowing this costs middle and working people jobs in construction, food service, manufacturing and other entry level industrial jobs.
Also, illegals are still paid under the table and not taxed. The man is an economic imbecile.
Bugg (ea1809) — 8/18/2011 @ 8:11 pm(Reuters) – Latino activists held a protest outside President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign headquarters on Tuesday to ask him to end a criminal deportation program they say is snaring large number of illegal immigrants who have not committed crimes.
Islamic Rage Boy (d1c681) — 8/18/2011 @ 10:02 pmThe man-caused disaster strikes again!
Icy Texan (7760bd) — 8/18/2011 @ 10:18 pmFrom JWF a dew days ago.
About 6 percent had no prior record with immigration officials or law enforcement; roughly 28 percent had no criminal history, the statistics show.
If I am interpreting that little piece of information correctly that would mean 72% DO have a criminal history.
My point exactly
Gazzer (bf310c) — 8/18/2011 @ 10:39 pmSo we the taxpayer will have to continue to subsidize people who stole their way illegally into this country. Many using forged or stolen identities, another crime. Stealing an education from the property taxpayers who pay for our public education system. Stealing health care via our emergency rooms. Many taking low skill jobs from our high school dropouts. Forcing every time I call a company to listen to for espanol press siente(spelling?). Whereas immigrants are supposed to be required to learn English! Where every product is labeled in Spanish and sometimes I have difficulty finding the English lable on products. Allowing some illegals to be paid under table avoiding paying most of the taxes we pay or if paid via a W2, we then get to give them a payout in the form of an earned income tax credit.
I would not have near the problem with this if we the actual taxpayers were not on the hook for all the costs… Oh yeah with Obama howling about the rich (ha, not the actual wealthy) do not pay their fair share! When half the country pays nothing… That is the half not paying their fair share. Anyone who can afford cable should be able to pay $1 month in taxes. 150 million x$1 x12 months = 1.8billion year at a bare $1 month for the privilege of living in this country and contributing SOMETHING other than sucking more from the other half of American who pay all the income taxes.
Dang I am ticked off early this morning.
Texas Mom 2012 (cee89f) — 8/19/2011 @ 6:19 amI know the math above is not feasible because a lot of the above 150 million are children but this was just an exercise in spreading the sacrifice 😀 !!!!!
Texas Mom 2012 (cee89f) — 8/19/2011 @ 6:22 amUnexpected.
in_awe (44fed5) — 8/19/2011 @ 10:24 amIt’s nothing more than a simple pander to HIspanic voters in 3 state that Obama needs to carry — New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada. And he hopes it might improve his numbers slightly in Arizona so that he might put it in play.
Nothing more and nothing less.
Except that it might also constitute and impeachable offense in the minds of some House Republicans.
shipwreckedcrew (4ae072) — 8/19/2011 @ 6:24 pmGotta love the left’s selective opposition to Ghaddafi these same retards had no problem calling Ghaddafi a misunderstood victim of Reagans tyranny.
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/21/2011 @ 8:02 pm25 years ago.
DohBiden (d54602) — 8/21/2011 @ 8:03 pmThis is simply part of the continuing demographic war against white America. As it is, we let over 1 million *legal* immigrants in at a time of over 9 percent official unemployment, a figure that rises to over twelve percent in mass immigration impacted California. Legal ‘Latinos’ and blacks are hardest hit by competition from legal and illegal immigrants, but their leaders will keep on promoting mass immigration because they know numbers equal power.
stari_momak (5fd7ae) — 8/22/2011 @ 7:51 amUE…L.A.County, the heart of El Norte: 13.3%
Another Drew - Restore the Republic / Obama Sucks! (2cd90b) — 8/22/2011 @ 7:56 am