Illegal Alien Crime Wave: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You
By Jim Kouri, CPP
Vice-president
National Association of Chiefs of Police
Complex problems are associated with illegal aliens who commit crimes.
Criminal aliens tend to be drug-oriented and violent, often preying on
members of their own cultures. If deported, they frequently use new
names to reenter the United States and establish residence in
different cities. Furthermore, aliens do not confine their criminal
activities to border cities--communities throughout this country are
experiencing increasing alien involvement in drug importation and
distribution, weapons smuggling, and violence against persons and
property.
The escalation in alien crime has placed added demands on state and
local law enforcement personnel. Effective identification of aliens
involved in crime requires familiarity with fraudulent documentation.
Proper arrest procedures must be carried out, and complex notification
and reporting requirements must be satisfied; otherwise, dangerous
aliens can escape prosecution and deportation. Handling the myriad
problems associated with alien crimes is often beyond the capabilities
of local police departments.
Some illegal aliens in the United States have been arrested and
incarcerated in federal and state prisons and local jails, adding to
already overcrowded prisons and jails. On April 7, 2005, the US
Justice Department issued a report on criminal aliens that were
incarcerated in federal and state prisons and local jails.
In the population study of 55,322 illegal aliens, researchers found
that they were arrested at least a total of 459,614 times, averaging
about 8 arrests per illegal alien. Nearly all had more than 1 arrest.
Thirty-eight percent (about 21,000) had between 2 and 5 arrests, 32
percent (about 18,000) had between 6 and 10 arrests, and 26 percent
(about 15,000) had 11 or more arrests. Most of the arrests occurred
after 1990.
They were arrested for a total of about 700,000 criminal offenses,
averaging about 13 offenses per illegal alien. One arrest incident may
include multiple offenses, a fact that explains why there are nearly
one and half times more offenses than arrests. Almost all of these
illegal aliens were arrested for more than 1 offense. Slightly more
than half of the 55,322 illegal aliens had between 2 and 10 offenses.
CRIMINAL HISTORY
More than two-thirds of the defendants charged with an immigration
offense were identified as having been previously arrested. Thirty-six
percent had been arrested on at least 5 prior occasions; 22%, 2 to 4
times; and 12%,1 time.
Sixty-one percent of those defendants had been convicted at least
once; 18%, 5 or more times; 26%, 2 to 4 times; and 17%, 1 time. Of
those charged, 49% had previously been
convicted of a felony: 20% of a drug offense; 18%, a violent offense;
and 11%, other felony offenses. Twelve percent had previously been
convicted of a misdemeanor.
Defendants charged with unlawful reentry had the most extensive
criminal histories. Nine in ten had been previously arrested. Of
those with a prior arrest, half had been arrested on at least 5 prior
occasions.
Fifty-six percent of those charged with a reentry offense had
previously been convicted of a violent or drug-related felony. By
contrast, under half of those charged with
alien smuggling, a third of those charged with unlawful entry, and
just over a quarter those charged with misuse of visas and other
charges had previously been arrested. The criminal histories of these
defendants were generally less extensive: more than 70% had been
previously arrested fewer than 5 times.
Sources: US Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, National Security Institute, National Association
of Chiefs of Police, US Department of Justice
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National
Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City
housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by
reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. He's also served on the
National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers
throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime
magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer,
Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air
commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including
Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His
book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com,
Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores.
http://www.opinioneditorials.com/freedomwriters/jcpp_20050805.html
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