“Our goal at DHS (Homeland Security) is to completely eliminate the ‘catch and release’ enforcement problem, and return every single illegal entrant, no exceptions….Today, a non-Mexican illegal immigrant caught trying to enter the United States across the southwest border has an 80 percent chance of being released immediately because we lack the holding facilities,” he added.
“Through a comprehensive approach, we are moving to end this ‘catch and release’ style of border enforcement by reengineering our detention and removal process.” (Source)
I’ll believe it when I see it. I have no faith in George Bush’s appointees, but I’ll give Michael Chertoff the benefit of the doubt.
In sort-of-related news, there’s been a unspecified terrorist threat against the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel from a “very unreliable” source, but authorities are taking it seriously anyway. Listen to WBAL for the latest.
Also see the Baltimore Sun and Reuters.
Update: A few thoughts from Thoughts Online and Jon Henke.
Update II: Forty percent of the child molesters caught under Operation Predator are illegal aliens. (All perverts who molest children, illegal aliens and legal citizens, should be drawn and quartered.) Although the feds could’ve come up with an original or less obvious name for the initiative, it looks like they’re finally doing something right.
La Shawn:
Ditto that talk is cheap on immigrtion.
I went through Baltimore Harbour Tunnel last year.
No doubt we are in for a lot of false alarms -but they will not ALL be false.
Comment by Frank Zavisca — 10.18.05 @ 12:50 pm
Me too (in regards to seeing is believing)…
but it sounds good
I just hope he means it and DOES it!!!
Comment by Renee — 10.18.05 @ 12:50 pm
I’m shocked he even said it. I thought illegal immigration was hands-off and mouths shut when it came to politics. I won’t hold my breath though.
Comment by xanadu1015 — 10.18.05 @ 1:45 pm
The conservative backlash to the Miers nomination has been a great shock to the White House.
The White House has been stonewalling the border issue, but I suspect there is serious talk there about getting the core conservative support back in the fold.
The Dem’s are going to make homeland security a big issue. Chertoff’s statements fit a rather neat time line. There are 90 days until the State of the Union which will signal the issues for the 2006 midterm elections. Those elections are just one year away.
If Bush takes a turn toward more vigor in border security, he will be well ahead of the 2006 campaigns and he will have set down the plan for 2008.
Comment by Heliotrope — 10.18.05 @ 2:08 pm
“I have no faith in George Bush’s appointees.” I too am disappointed in Bush appointees. It seems that there is less and less emphasis on qualification and experience than ever before. Not that political favoritism is unique to either liberals or conservatives, but it does seem to have hit new heights (or new lows, depending on your pov)–FEMA leaders who have no experience with emergency management, EPA appointees who have no experience with businesses affected by environmental policy and limited experience with environmental policy, and so on.
I think if we want real debate, rather than yelling and name calling, we need to push for higher standards in both those we elect and those who get appointed. For one, I’d really like to talk about immigration policy, find ways to take advantage of immigrant energy, talent, determination without making the boarder states go broke. After all the entrepreneural energy represented by the Mexican immigrant population (both legal and illegal) in Cal, AZ, and TX is stunning. The policy we have now doesn’t work, more force and tighter rules may just work against us, but open boarders are a nightmare.
So aren’t we smart enough to come up with better answers than a big tall fence lined with machine guns (which seems a little too much like check point charlie and the Berlin wall for comfort) without giving up entirely? I think we are–if we can move away from hyperbole and all that.
Sarah
Comment by Sarah — 10.18.05 @ 2:11 pm
I’m mostly with you, La Shawn, I’ll believe it when I see action. On the other hand, he’s at least talking about the need for correct action, something that has not been seen in at least twenty years from the Cabinet level (or above). Furthermore, Chertoff seems to be one of the closer cabinet members to the President’s mind.
Comment by Dan Melson — 10.18.05 @ 2:33 pm
Chertoff’s Get-Tough Stance On Illegal Immigrants
Via AP: Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said his department aims without exception to expel all those who enter the United States illegally. “Our goal at DHS (Homeland Security) is to completely eliminate the ‘catch and release’ enforce…
Trackback by Blogs for Bush: The White House Of The Blogosphere — 10.18.05 @ 2:37 pm
We need to house illegals fighting deportation at enclaves around the U.S. Embassy in the person’s native country, under diplomatic protection.
Comment by Walter E. Wallis — 10.18.05 @ 2:56 pm
Threat Prompts Closure of Baltimore Tunnel
A security threat prompted authorities to close one of two tunnels carrying traffic under B
Trackback by Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator — 10.18.05 @ 3:03 pm
Hallelujah!
California will be saved!
Comment by Baklava — 10.18.05 @ 3:27 pm
It’s not going to make a difference
People are sneaking into this country because they’ve determined the benefits of being in the United States outweigh any costs they may incur trying to get in and sending the ones who get caught back to where they started their journey won’t do anyth…
Trackback by ThoughtsOnline — 10.18.05 @ 3:37 pm
Business interests, especially construction will not allow this happen. Cheap labor, along with cheap borrowing, is what is driving the economy these days.
Just my opinion.
Comment by luke — 10.18.05 @ 4:27 pm
A slightly hypocritical policy from a government which slaughtered the original inhabitants of its country and then transported millions of slaves there from Africa!
Comment by jamal — 10.18.05 @ 5:06 pm
Walter #8
Why don’t we house them in the embassy (not outside)
Comment by Renee — 10.18.05 @ 5:39 pm
Interesting Update from the Immigration Blog:
http://michellemalkin.com/immigration/2005/10/18/03:56.pm
Comment by Renee — 10.18.05 @ 6:05 pm
Well, it was a nice thought for a few minutes…
Comment by Mark La Roi — 10.18.05 @ 7:34 pm
Jamal,
A slightly hypocritical policy from a government which slaughtered the original inhabitants of its country and then transported millions of slaves there from Africa!
So only perfect people and countries that have ALWAYS been perfect are allowed to act to try and solve a problem today? That lets out ALL of humanity, if you’ve ever read any history at all. Maybe even the Africans who happily sold their fellow Africans down the river.
I could sit around and hate the Italians and the British for what they did to MY ancestors, but it was a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand years ago. And what exactly does that accomplish? Nada, zip, zero, zilch.
Comment by beth — 10.18.05 @ 8:05 pm
Chris Kelly at Michelle Malkin’s immigration blog debunks this story:
http://michellemalkin.com/immigration/2005/10/18/03:56.pm
This policy relates to non-Mexican illegal immigrants.
Comment by sensible mom — 10.18.05 @ 8:33 pm
Chertoff Is Full Of Crap, Says “Our goal is to return every single illegal entrant, no exceptions”
Let’s just take a look at what Michael Chertoff, the head of DHS, means when he says “Our goal is to return every single illegal entrant, no exceptions”. First of all let me print what he really should have said…
Trackback by Diggers Realm — 10.20.05 @ 5:22 am