Seizing the moment to send a message to proponents of Arizona's new immigration law, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it had arrested 596 illegal aliens with criminal records throughout the southeastern U.S. in just three days.
The "message" to Arizona came from Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton in a press release. "We are a compassionate nation with a proud history of immigration," he said. "But we are also a nation governed by laws specifically designed to protect its citizens and residents. Those who come to the United States to prey upon our neighbors and communities will be prosecuted for their crimes and ultimately returned to their home countries. The results of this week's operation demonstrate ICE's commitment to that principle."
The three-day raid involved over 400 federal and local law enforcement officers, a fact ICE says serves "as another example of ICE's focus on indentifying and removing criminal aliens from the United States."
Arrests were made in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Puerto Rico, with 258 aliens being arrested in Florida and Puerto Rico alone.
The arrestees, 544 men and 55 women, represent 60 different nations, including countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Also See:
Do Illegal Aliens Have Constitutional Rights?
What Does an "Illegal Immigrant" Look Like? (Immigration Issues)
Illegal Immigration Costs California $10 Billion Annually (2004)
Comments
None in Arizona, California, Texas or New Mexico…
hmmmmmm, just another case of the Federal Gov’t trying to make us look “the other way” while the status quo continues JUST THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE!!!!!
Arizona is #2 in the WORLD for kidnappings, and they couln’t find a single “illegal immigrant”, and I though that it was pollitically incorrect to refer to them as “illegal”, I thought that they were undoccumented? Go figure…
Yes, I support AZ SB1070. Illegals have to line up like everybody else and should not be given amnesty! Regardless of our ethnic background, we are in the host country of the United States and have to abide by the laws otherwise we ought to stay where we are from.
Good work! Unfortunatly it took Arizona’s Governor to embarrass Homeland Security into doing their job.
How do you figure Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE John Morton got all 400 federal and local law enforcement officers out of the donut shop at the same time?
Although I’m pleased that DHS decided to do their job, I’m displeased that it took the state of Arizona to pass legislation that essentially embarrassed this administration enough to allow DHS to do what they should have done in the first place. The question is, will it continue? Although I understand the issue of America as a melting pot of nations, I also understand that we’re a nation with laws that must be enforced.
I am in favor and read the bill passed by Arizona – Its about time!! The Feds are not doing anything about it!! The White House is out of touch with the majority of the American Voting Citizens – the majority is in favor what Arizona Govenor did!!! Go Arizona alot of Americans are behind you!!! Let California and other left wing states take on the illegals – safe haven there ha ha!!! How much is California in debt – let me see – Approx. 15 BILLION DOLLARS!!! LET THE ILLEGALS GO THERE TO CALIFORNIA! Alot of our money problems is from illegals!!!
I am for the Arizonia Immigration Law. I am completely disgusted with John Morton. Look illegal is illegal. No one that is in the United States illegal should remain here. There is no profiling. It is what it is. If your illegal get out of our country. You want to be an American Citizen then fine do it the legal way. John Morton your a per excuse for a man running Ice. Is Obama pulling your strings????
Is Namcy Pelosi pulling your strings?????. One more thing. How dare Calderon give his remarks at the White House. He comes to our United States of America and knocks us. How dare the democrates stand up and applaud this guy. I don’t care what he has done for Mexico. Lets follow the Mexican Laws and shove the illegals back into Mexico and up his lap. I am for removing all illegals from the United States. Did you know that some illegals are here for a very long time and make more money then we could ever dream of making. Usually they get paid cash. One in particular is selling his body on line as a bottom. Sometimes makes 10K in a week and pays out big money to top lawyers to keep him here. Oh yes he drives the best cars and takes old men’s money. What is that all about and ICE knows all about him. He has even been in jail for a year. Only to get out and still get his court trials extended. No social security # lives off our money every chance he gets. This is going on all the time.
Get these illegals out of here. NOW
Sadly, I fear this was a one time shot at embarrassing the State of Arizona. 596 is a mere pittance of the numbers crossing the border daily. Enuf said.
Just a case of “Johnny Come Lately”: Feds are rounding up these law breakers “lately” but they weren’t before.
Oh and now that they’ve got them in custody the Fed’s should hand them over to Sheriff Joe who will make them pick the trash up that they and their fellow law breakers left behind in our beautiful deserts!!!
As a reminder, the individual heading up Homeland Security is the former governor of Arizona AND who ran the finances & security of our great state into the crapper.
It’s no surprise that HLS isn’t doing it’s job!! Our current governor is trying to clean the mess up that Janet made and left.
The fact that it toke three days and over 400 officers for this should say something. THE BORDER IS NOT PROTECTED ENOUGH!!!! This is time and resources spent to fix a problem that should not have occurred in the first place. If the federal government did it’s job and started a plan to protect the borders, we wouldn’t have to.
More Left wing propaganda! 596 out of a couple million illegals! Give us a break. If they ‘caught this number, where are they at this very minute? Send their butts back!
Normal people support the Arizona law. Only the liberal politicians that want these folks in their pocket from election to election, think and act differently.
Why wasn’t this an issue with you folks for the past 22 years, starting when the “revered” Ronald Reagan first granted amnesty to the Mexican illegals? So now that President Obama is on board, NOW IT’S AN ISSUE? Pretty funny that none of you realize that the reason for the influx is big business and their profits; stop Walmart, Tyson, etc from recruiting these folks then you stop the invasion. Ah…the geniuses of America!
Why are we fighting the Federal Law!! Theses people are illegal; END OF STORY!! Why should they have rights!! What an insult for other states and HIlton thinking they have the right to sue a state within the same country that is following the Federal Law!!!
Plus how long can a person live in USA with a green card and not become a US Citizen!!! There needs to be a law for that too!! I just found out my roommate has been in the US for 25 years with a Green Card and he has no intention to become a citizen, but wants to work here!!! That is BS!!!!!!! He wants to retire back in Guatemala!!!
YEA, THEY WANT EVERYONE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY, CAUSE THE ILLEGALS ARE STILL CROSSING AS WE TYPE. 100′S A DAY