Tougher Criminal Enforcement of Immigration Laws

In Austin, Texas, immigration agents in recent months have filed criminal charges against dozens of undocumented immigrants for crimes that have long been handled with simple deportation, according to the agents’ supervisor. Alonzo Pena, the special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s San Antonio division, which includes Austin, attributes the change to a recent shift in the cases that federal prosecutors are willing to take to court. Click here for the story.   

Call this blogger paranoid but is this part of an increased immigration enforcement campaign — recall the workplace raids reported last week — perhaps designed to show that the Bush administration is willing to vigorously enforce the immigration laws and facilitate passage of “comprehensive” immigration reform?

KJ