US Ending Catch and Release of OTM Illegals

[Texsox]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle....HOLE.xml&rpc=22

 

By Bernd Debusmann

 

LAREDO, Texas (Reuters) - The United States is closing a legal loophole which has allowed tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to slip into the country and join the estimated 11 million undocumented foreigners already here.

 

Under long-standing procedure along the U.S. border with Mexico, illegal crossers of nationalities other than Mexican -- dubbed OTMs by the Border Patrol -- have been entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge before they could be deported.

 

Because of a severe shortage of space to hold them until the hearing, they were released after being fingerprinted and given a "notice to appear," a document stating they had agreed to show up at court at a certain date.

 

The notice serves as a travel document allowing its holder past Border Patrol checkpoints on the roads leading from the border to the interior. Most OTMs do not show up for their hearing and meld into the population.

 

Known as "catch and release", the practice has become part of an increasingly acrimonious debate over immigration policy and border security, an issue likely to loom large in Congress, next year's mid-term elections and the 2008 presidential poll.

 

Plus side: Tightens the border. Places the rest of South America on the same field as Mexico, quickens the process, will reduce the undocumented worker population,

 

Minuses: Expensive. Detaining and providing transportation is expensive. Illegals will try riskier and riskier routes, increasing their deaths and possibly for the Border Patrol Agents. It will be a nightmare for legals caught up in this. People with legitimate fears in their homeland could end up in peril. The Statue of Liberty will ave to be changed to give us some, well maybe a few, or possibly non of your huddled masses yearning to be free.