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Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Feds arrest 1,300 in summer “surge” against immigrant gangs
A four-month nationwide “enforcement surge” against immigrant gangs netted more than 1,300 arrests in 23 cities, federal officials said Tuesday.
Some of the alleged gang members were charged with violent crimes such as assault, kidnapping and human smuggling, but most — 939 — were detained for immigration violations and put into deportation proceedings.
Julie Myers, head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said that the arrests were part of a joint effort with state, local and international law enforcement agencies to combat the growing problem of violent transnational street gangs.
“We’ve arrested some of the worst of the worst,” said Myers, at a press conference at ICE headquarters.
Most of the alleged gang members were in the United States illegally and about one fourth had violent criminal histories, Myers said.
Several of the arrests were in large cities such as New York, which had the highest number, 205. In addition, 160 people were arrested in Miami, and 121 in Dallas.
But many were also arrested in smaller urban areas, including 93 in Raleigh, N.C. and 34 in Boise, Idaho.
(Photo by Rick McKay/Cox News Service)
Former Mexican president says racism is dictating U.S. immigration policy
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox said Monday that the United States is letting racism dictate its policies, especially when it comes to immigration, the Associated Press reported.
“The xenophobics, the racists, those who feel they are a superior race … they are deciding the future of this nation,” Fox said, without naming names, in an interview with AP.
The interview was designed to promote Fox’s new book, “Revolution of Hope.”
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