US security chief strives to expel all illegal immigrants

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 10-19-2005, 00:58

US security chief strives to expel all illegal immigrants
Oct 18 11:47 AM US/Eastern
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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' enforcement problem, and return every single illegal entrant, no exceptions.

"It should be possible to achieve significant and measurable progress to this end in less than a year," Chertoff told a Senate hearing.

Thousands of "Mexicans who are caught entering the United States illegally are returned immediately to Mexico. But other parts of the system have nearly collapsed under the weight of numbers. The problem is especially severe for non-Mexicans apprehended at the southwest border," Chertoff explained.

"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."

Chertoff's remarks in favor of returning "every illegal entrant, no exceptions" appeared to conflict directly with the US policy toward illegal Cuban migrants.

Though Cubans picked up at sea are returned to their country, those who reach US soil by air, sea or ground are allowed to stay and work -- a fact Cuba says encourages dangerous illegal emigration attempts.

Can we believe this? Or has the asdministration seen the light and now going to honor the will of the American people. I hear them saying the same about the out of control spending. Conservative breakdown indeed.

**Devastatin Dave** · 10-19-2005, 01:02

God i hope its true. Time to pick off another parasite from the tax payers. Next parasite? Welfare lifers.

**Kaiser of Arabia** · 10-19-2005, 01:04

If it's true, YAY! If not...

DOWN WITH COMMUNISM!

**Strike For The South** · 10-19-2005, 01:04

Lets hope so

**Xiahou** · 10-19-2005, 01:12

Originally Posted by Kaiser of Arabia

If it's true, YAY! If not...

DOWN WITH COMMUNISM!

Well, either way- DOWN WITH COMMUNISM!

It's good to hear the administration say something like this- but I'll wait for them to act before I get excited.

**Kanamori** · 10-19-2005, 01:22

Besides any serious commitment to do it, could they do it?

**Slyspy** · 10-19-2005, 03:54

Not a chance. Politicians and their cronies love hyperbole, it makes them feel like they are actually doing something useful.

**Red Harvest** · 10-19-2005, 04:04

Nah, the real question is will they fund it? It's not a small task, and it is going to take time, people, and money to make it work. If it is done piecemeal and on the cheap, then it is likely to be counterproductive. Sit down, figure out what needs to change to make the system work, how many beds, how many detention officers, how much border patrol, any appropriate legal changes. Tally up the cost, and go for it. The states are probably paying a disproportionate cost of illegal immigration presently, so this would shift the burden over time tot the Feds, but the challenge will be getting funds at the same time that fiscal conservatives are balking over other new expenses.

Business probably won't like it.

**bmolsson** · 10-19-2005, 06:10

Originally Posted by Devastatin Dave

God i hope its true. Time to pick off another parasite from the tax payers. Next parasite? Welfare lifers.

Just talk. I bet he got a Mexican maid serving him......

**Kanamori** · 10-19-2005, 06:44

They are a source of labor, it is a simple economic principle, less people = less production. The fact is, real GDP will go down if they are all expelled; whether it is worth it or not is another question.

You overestimate the power of business in this country. In the real world, and not some crazy liberal conspiracy riddled paranoia, corporations do not control America.

Crazed Rabbit

Our country has an interest in a good economy. Naturally, they want businesses to do well, within reasonable terms of possible side effects of some actions

**Divinus Arma** · 10-19-2005, 07:21

I call bullshit. This is a cover, nothing more.

This a a david drier ploy 180%. All talk, no action. What crap.

F-ing GOP. How dare you abandon us! At least the House GOP still has balls!!!!