Mexican Men Under 35-Years-Old with Traffic Violations are Most at Risk of Deportation, More than Even Those with Major Criminal Offenses
The Obama administration, immigration, and deportation have been lumped topics within recent years, and will continue to be as long as undocumented immigrants continue to be removed from the country at unparalleled rates. The New York Times reported that while the president has aimed his boot at kicking out "criminals, gang bangers, people who are hurting the community, not students... folks who are here just because they're trying to figure out how to feed their families," New York Times analysis of internal government records shows that two-thirds of the two million deported during Obama's stint in the White House were involved in minor infractions, such as traffic violations; some others had no criminal record at all. Only 20 percent of those arrested were convicted of serious crimes, which include drug-related offense.
The disconnect between the goals and reality are biting, as promises of comprehensive immigration reform are met with inaction, insufficient support and "he said, she said" from the Democrats and Republics higher-ups in the White House and the House of Representatives. The current stance of immigration is an unsatisfactory position for all involved, but that hasn't roused the stalemate, or ceased the relocation of millions who came to the country under the farce notion that they could better their lives. Upon arriving, immigrants witness the deportations of their sisters and brothers, which prompts the quick realization that the American dream is made of pipe.
Anecdotal reports and studies over the past few years have been consulted, and the results of analysis show that, of the 3.2 million deported over the last 10 years, most were Mexican men under the age of 35 years old. It also indicated that the most serious offense listed for these men, and others, were traffic violations, which includes driving under the influence. Traffic violation-related offenses quadrupled during the last five years of President George W. Bush's administration (43,000 to 193,000), and removals for entering or re-entering the country illegally tripled under Obama's administration. The trend of catching and removing those with no criminal records was initiated in the final year of the Bush administration (more than a quarter), and the practice of removing immigration violators with formal charges budded under Obama's watch. In 2013, charges were filed in more than 90 percent of removal cases; and immigrants were prohibited from returning for at least five years, or they would risk receiving prison time.
Marielena Hincapié, the executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, has made statements that accuse the Obama administration, more than any other, of devastating immigrant communities and "tearing families from loved ones," while administration officials indicate that deportations are a result of a decade-long passing of "tougher ' immigration laws orchestrated by congress. Cecilia Muñoz, the White House domestic policy adviser, has said that the president is "concerned about the human cost of separating families" and said that's it's impossible to flip a switch to stop it. The introduction of the term "DREAMers" during the spring of 2012 was Obama's first attempt to cap immigration, though the proposition caught protests and disapproval. He also has said that intends to make the current deportation program "more humane." This provoked Republicans, who claimed that the president has weakened enforcement, and they've accused the administration of inflating deportation numbers by calculating in the penalization of those illegally entering at the border.
"The administration has carried out a dramatic nullification of federal law," said Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama. "Under the guise of setting 'priorities', the administration has determined that almost anyone in the world who can enter the United States is free to illegally live, work and claim benefits here as long as they are not caught committing a felony or other serious crime."
Fox News has reported that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson intends to weigh the decision to limit the deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who don't have serious criminal records. And, if adopted, it could shield thousands of immigrants removed each year exclusively because they've committed repeat immigration violations. Those offenses include failing to observe deportation orders, missing a court date, or illegally re-entering the country after deportation. Though it is progress, the new policy would fail to address some of immigration activists' demands, which includes expanding the two-year-old Dream Act, to include parents of children born in the U.S., or similar situations.
John Sandweg, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stated that he promoted the policy change to not pursue those without serious criminal records. Sandweg's consideration of serious criminal offenses presently includes undocumented immigrants who've re-entered the country after previous deportations, and those who are fugitives from immigration proceedings. Immigration advocates would like to alter that proposition, but all considerations are still in the development stages.
"Any report of specific considerations at this time would be premature," Clark Stevens, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said Monday. Stevens said Johnson "has undergone a very rigorous and inclusive process to best inform the review," including seeking input from people within DHS as well as lawmakers of both parties, and other stakeholders.
The proposed change comes after Obama ordered a review to institute more humane deportations, prompted by pressure to curb deportations.