Aliens with Serious Criminal Convictions Freed from Detention
A new report from the Center for Immigration Studies reports a threat to public safety by the release of 36,007 criminal illegal aliens in 2013 who were being processed for deportation, but were not detained while awaiting the final disposition of their cases, or afterwards.
Based on data from statistics compiled by ICE in response to congressional inquiries, the report reveals that thousands of these convictions were for violent or serious crime, including 193 homicide convictions, 426 sexual assault convictions, 303 kidnapping convictions, and 1,075 aggravated assault convictions as well as more than 16,000 drunk or drugged driving convictions. The 36,007 criminal aliens were released on bond, order of recognizance (unsupervised), order of supervision, alternatives to detention, and parole (a form of legal status).
These releases are in addition to the 68,000 cases of criminal aliens that ICE officers declined to bring immigration charges against in 2013. The trend of releasing those who are a danger to our communities calls into question the administration’s seriousness in setting priorities and enforcing the nation's immigration laws.
“I was astonished at not only the huge number of convicted criminals who were freed from ICE custody last year – an average of almost 100 a day -- but also at the large number of very serious crimes they had committed. In light of these numbers, it will be hard to justify further relaxation of enforcement or reductions in detention capacity, as the administration has sought,” said Jessica Vaughan, the Center’s Director of Policy Studies. “Congress should resist further action on immigration reform until the public can be assured that enforcement is more robust and that ICE can better deal with its criminal alien caseload without setting them free in our communities.”