ICE agents arrested and deported 280 people in California
Across the state of California, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led more than 400 agents and local law enforcement officers to enforce deportation orders against undocumented immigrants. As a result, ICE agents arrested and deported 280 people in California in the month of December 2009. For ICE agents, the effort was the most successful push yet to round up undocumented immigrants with suspected criminal backgrounds.
ICE’s mission is to enforce immigration laws, and keep communities safe from undocumented criminals. ICE Director John Morton said, "We're going to focus on those people who choose to pursue a life of crime in the United States rather than pursue the American dream of education, hard work and success." He continues, “illegal immigrants here in the United States are people who no one may want walking our streets because of their criminal record and background.”
Although it seems communities across the state are concerned about the effects of illegal immigration, it is imperative to keep in mind that the vast majority of undocumented workers in the U.S. have NO criminal history.
When facing deportation from the U.S., those facing removal can seek legal advice about their options and fight back with the help of an immigration attorney. Immigration attorneys serve local communities in need of representation when dealing with immigration issues. An immigration attorney will ensure that anyone facing removal from the U.S., or other immigration obstacles, obtains their full benefits under the law.
Though the benefit of removing “criminals” from our communities seems clear, the issue is much more complex. The laws that require the deportation of aliens who have committed certain crimes are harsh and far reaching. The laws are also retroactive, meaning that an alien may be deported from the U.S. for committing two misdemeanor offenses, even if the offenses were committed twenty or thirty years ago. Many aliens facing removal from the U.S. have relatives who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. It is often unfair to the families of the person facing removal. The undocumented worker may be the sole source of income for his or her entire family. Although it seems as though the United States is gaining safer communities, there are many families devastated by the loss of loved ones for mistakes committed in the past.
The United States is a country of immigrants. We have welcomed people from every corner of the globe. The diversity of culture and values that immigrants have brought with them contribute to the vitality and success of the U.S., and continue to enrich this country. The United States is a nation of countless cultures and values, bound by our shared experience, and by common goals to ensure the happiness of our families.
Whatever our thoughts are about immigration, legal or otherwise, all Americans have a background and history of immigrating into this country. The same reason our families came to this country continues to draw families from around the world, the hope for a better future, and the promise of the American dream.
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