“Collateral Arrests” a Benefit of Immigration Enforcement Efforts

According to AP (here), more than one-third of 18,000 people arrested in a nearly yearlong federal crackdown on illegal immigrants were not the people authorities targeted, according to government figures. The so-called “collateral arrests” involved people picked up by immigration agents while seeking fugitives such as drug smugglers, thieves, drunken drivers and others who flouted deportation orders.When tracking down fugitives, authorities visit a suspect’s last known address and often find other immigrants, who are then asked to prove they are legally entitled to live in the United States. Critics say the campaign against fugitive illegal immigrants ensnares many hard-working people who are in the country illegally but do not pose a danger.

KJ