Do you believe that Congress could reduce the number of gangs by enforcing laws against illegals?
cis.org
Immigrant Gangs: Pols still don’t get it
By Jon Feere, January 5, 2009
In their quest for open borders, many politicians still fail to understand the link between immigration and the growth of gangs.
The latest example is chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) – who happens to have one of the worst records on immigration enforcement. In the next Congress, Baca plans to introduce an initiative to fight gangs. It sounds like a great idea, but if his past efforts are a guide, it’s likely that this initiative will focus only on prevention programs akin to the anti-drug program known as D.A.R.E.
The problem with this effort is that it in no way addresses the continuous flow of illegal alien gangsters over our borders. Congress could dramatically reduce the growth of gangs simply through better enforcement of immigration law, as illustrated in a recent Center for Immigration Studies Backgrounder I co-authored with the Center’s Senior Policy Analyst Jessica Vaughan titled, “Taking Back the Streets.” Baca doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge this reality.
But not only is Baca failing to be pro-active in reducing gangs through immigration enforcement, he’s actually making things worse by advocating policies that would benefit gang members: an end to workplace enforcement measures and a massive illegal alien amnesty.
Baca is asking President-elect Obama to stop workplace enforcement via executive order upon taking office. What the congressman fails to realize that many illegal alien gang members rarely make a living as gangsters; many work regular jobs in restaurants, construction, and landscaping, for example. It’s after dusk when they hone their machete-wielding skills. Arresting these individuals at work rather than at a crime scene is clearly ideal.
Baca explains that ending workplace enforcement would “reduce the fear of deportation.” But such a change would only embolden illegal alien gang members, individuals who should fear deportation.
Baca is also chomping at the bit for another amnesty debate. He says “our nation needs it” and that it “doesn’t take away from enforcement.” He couldn’t be more wrong. Any “pathway to citizenship” would be a huge benefit to gangs as it would cement their presence in the country and make the job of law enforcement much more difficult. The option of deportation – perhaps the most effective law enforcement tool in fighting the growth of violent gangs – would be eliminated. Even more ludicrous is the fact that the last big amnesty proposal actually included a provision aimed directly at benefiting illegal alien gang members; they simply had to sign a “renunciation of gang affiliation.” Likely, Baca’s desire to welcome more illegal alien gang members into our neighborhoods has not changed and we’d see similar provisions in future amnesty proposals.
If we are serious about reducing gang crime, we must improve immigration enforcement efforts. Increased gang activity is a direct consequence of lax enforcement of immigration law.
http://www.cis.org/feere/polsdontgetit
Easy. If nearly a third of your prisoners are illegals, you can reduce your prison budget by a third just by deporting these people. Would you as a taxpayer like to see a third less spent on prisons ??? California has been asked to spend billions reforming its prison health care. Wouldn’t it be nice to reduce the prison population, so then adequate health care can be provided to the citizen prisoners ?? and even the FBI state ilegals commit a large share of violent crimes. Border areas see an increase in kidnappings, rapes, torture (yes, torture right here in the US, all related to Mexican drug cartels). our liberal press will not show this, it is just not ‘politically correct’.
I think we should round up gangs and set up some encampments in the mountains or in the desert. Make them live there so they won’t bother anyone. If they kill each other, who cares?
It is estimated that 53% of MS-13 is made up of illegal immigrants, which happens to be the largest street gang in the U.S. and still growing.
I agree with you somewhat but not completely. Indeed, many illegal immigrants crossing the mexican borders become criminals but not all of them. Also solving the illegal immigration won’t solve the gang problems in America and truly after school programs keeps many kids from the street. But the main cause of the problem is parenting or parents not keeping a close eye on their children, as sad as it sounds. Most gangs start out with kids, who have nothing better to do with their time, so they hang out and you know what they say about idleness. More and more parents are becoming single parents, that one person will be the bread winner as well as the nurturer which is very difficult to do. Even in homes with both parents at home, parents are often too busy with work, so some fail to pay close attention to their children and know what they do and who their friends are, like the saying “show me your friend and I will show you your character”. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a career but it sometimes come at the expense of the children. the problem is much bigger than just illegal immigrants.
Bush was trying to have all the illegal immigrants on record by giving them temporary work permits so they’s have their fingerprints in the system but the country rejected it. now when an illegal immigrant commits a crime like say rape…even if they have his fingerprints it won’t mean much because they are not in the database, and so they go scot free to commit the crime another day. Seal off the borders, deport as many as you can and then legitimise those who are doing positive and helpful things like schooling, working legal jobs and taking care of their families, and those fighting for the country
most illegal immigrants are not gang members.
another steorotype very common aswell
its clear that you dont know about gang members right?
of course not why because your not in a gang
most gang members dont work.
Not all illegals are in gangs 4 ur info KAT M. and not only U.S. is having troubles with MS-13 but also Mexico and all South America and there Salvatruchas not Mexicans.
It seems to be hispanics or person of hispanic decent who are pushing amnesty, No one else seems to want it. Surely the gov can figure that out and see the reason for it. If MXs are so determined to be #1 they should go back to MX with their “educations” and make MX #1. Then they will be surrounded by nothing but MXs.
Wow.. gang members working.. what a novel idea. All crime and gangs would cease to exist without illegals …. snickering
yes and no. there are plenty of american citizens running around in gangs. however immigration is not the main source of the problem here. its drugs and poverty, but the two are connected seeing as how most of these illegal substances are smuggled through mexico, and also these people come from places where 52% of the population lives in poverty. however i feel deportation of these gang members at the moment is superfluous until we get our borders secured.
Sure, but then again we are called racists