In her New York Times article today, Julia Preston confirms what many already know, that U.S. immigration judges are overwhelmed by unrealistic goals, beset by mounting caseloads and the shortage of time and resources. These findings are based on a new study published by a Georgetown University law journal.
In a related story, Miss Preston reports a White House program that extends federal immigration enforcement to state and local police with specific focus on the “capture of illegal immigrants who committed serious crimes”. She cites resistance from immigrant advocates who argue that it will raise fear that a wider net will include immigrants with no criminal records.
These two developments underscore the same nagging issues that face our health care system, namely the focus on curing the symptoms rather on prevention. Of course, we do not need more criminals in our already overcrowded prisons, the dark alleys of fugitives or, for that matter, the fathomless limbo of immigrant detention. But, consider the wide spectrum of state-by-state action—or inaction—to this yet unclear process, the ill consequences of which can be as far-reaching and perhaps as uncontainable as is already the entire immigration system morass.
Addressing the challenges faced by the immigration judges should be of greater priority, ensuring that legitimate processes are not impaired by bureaucratic inadequacies or reactive expedience. These challenges are as clear-cut as what the sensible and practical remedies should be. Recognizing that a legal route is fair and just and workable is a prominent deterrent to going around the system or the fence. In the meantime, let’s figure out a more pragmatic blueprint to ridding our streets of “serious” criminals, other than unleashing a potential witch-hunt.
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