Do undocumented immigrants greatly add to the crime in the U.S. after crossing illegally?

"Notwithstanding the mayor's allegation that illegal immigrants caused the upsurge in Hazleton's crime rate, police records introduced in court show that undocumented immigrants were only involved in approximately twenty (20) of the more than eight thousand five hundred (8,500) crimes committed since 2001. Hence, no factual basis for the ordinance"

Copyright Filipino Reporter Aug 3-Aug 9, 2007

ABAD CONSTANCIO & MALLONGA, LLC

ON July 26, 2007, Federal Judge James Munley, in a 206-page decision, declared Hazleton's anti-immigrant ordinances as unconstitutional and issued a temporary order blocking the enforcement of said ordinances. Judge Munley wrote: "The City could not enact an ordinance that violates rights the Constitution guarantees to every person in the U.S., whether legal resident or not. The genius of our Constitution is that it provides rights even to those who evoke the least sympathy from the general public. In that way, all in this nation can be confident of equal justice under its laws. Hazleton, in its zeal to control the presence of a group deemed undesirable (illegal immigrants), violated the rights of such people, as well as others within the community. Since the United States Constitution protects even the disfavored, the ordinances cannot be enforced." (The Hazleton case is Lozano v. Hazleton and is in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.)

Background. Citing the upsurge of illegal immigrants as the primary reason in the unprecedented increase in murders and drug-related crimes, overcrowded schools districts and rising health care costs, the mayor and City Council of Hazleton, Pennsylvania in 2006 enacted an ordinance into law entitled the "Illegal Immigration Relief Act." More specifically, said law would a) deny licenses to businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants; and, b) fine landlords $1,000.00 for each illegal immigrant renting their properties. Another measure would have required renters to obtain permits from City Hall that would declare to landlords that they are in the U.S. legally. Also, for employers to do a background check with the Bureau of Immigration and Enforcement on its employees. What's really going on here? Simply put, the ordinance in question sought to portray its immigrant population as the scapegoat for the city's economic and social shortcomings. What is troubling about the ordinance is that - as revealed during the course of trial - the mayor and City Council rushed to pass the law without conducting any research. Notwithstanding the mayor's allegation that illegal immigrants caused the upsurge in Hazleton's crime rate, police records introduced in court show that undocumented immigrants were only involved in approximately twenty (20) of the more than eight thousand five hundred (8,500) crimes committed since 2001. Hence, no factual basis for the ordinance.

Impact of Hazleton's Anti-Immigrant Law. Nonetheless, when Hazleton passed its anti-immigrant bill in 2006, it became the blueprint for similar acts passed by some 80 cities and municipalities across the U.S. in a bid to stop illegal immigration. The Hazleton law became the lightning rod for a growing movement among state and city officials in the fight against illegal immigration. In many instances, however, these local laws have deprived individuals of due process by terminating employment or housing without a proper hearing. And the real reason behind the upsurge of these anti-immigrant bills and laws? It is the perceived inability of the federal government to enforce existing immigration laws, as well as enact meaningful immigration laws to address the issue of undocumented aliens. Proponents of this anti-immigrant bill argue that when Congress and the federal authorities are incapable of controlling the effects of illegal immigration, then state and local governments should be able to act on the problem at. their level. Judge Munley, however, concluded that the enactment of such laws by municipalities usurp federal power. "Whatever frustrations... the City of Hazleton may feel about the current state of federal immigration enforcement, the nature of the political system in the U.S. prohibits the city from enacting ordinances that disrupt a carefully drawn statutory scheme." Stated otherwise, only the federal government can write and revise immigration laws, not local municipalities. The high profile Hazleton case highlights a national problem: what to do with the estimated 12 million or so undocumented aliens currently residing in the U.S.? Again, unless Congress finds the political will to enact a meaningful comprehensive immigration law that addresses the issue of undocumented aliens, then we shall continue to see the proliferation of various Hazleton-inspired anti-immigrant ordinances being enacted across the nation and the continued portrayal of all immigrants as the scapegoat for the nation's economic and social problems.

"Lex Fuhgeddaboutit," a.k.a. "Let's Forget About it": Lex is the Latin word for law and Fuhgeddaboutit is the American slang for "forget about it, " to tell someone not to worry about something; no problem. For example, my work permit expires in a week, and I also haven't filed my tax returns.

Answer: Eh, Fuhgeddaboutit! In life, the wrong turns or dead-ends one faces - more often than not - are the result of the attitude embodied in the word "Fuhgeddaboutit!" An educated choice is, therefore, crucial. This column aims to erode such an attitude by helping clarify the legal issues that affect our daily lives and hopefully induce the reader to act accordingly.

(Editor's note: J. T. S. Mallonga, Esq. is a partner in the law firm of Abad Constancio & Mallonga, LLC. He specializes in immigration law. He is currently a member of the New Jersey Governor's Ethnic Advisory Commission and also serves as the vice-chair of the National Federation of Filipino Associations of America [NAFAA], Region I. He can be reached at ITMallonga@acmlaw.com).

[Author Affiliation]
By J. T. S. MALLONGA, ESQ.

K.T.

PEOPLE NEED TO STOP BEING SO STEREOTYPICAL!

1. I HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO PLANS ON STAYING ILLEGAL FOREVER. EVERY IMMIGRANT I KNOW EITHER ALREADY HAS THEIR PAPERS OR ARE WORKING ON THEM. I'M NOT SAYING THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T, BUT MOST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DON'T PLAN ON STAYING ILLEGAL FOREVER.

2. SOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMMIT CRIMES BUT MOST OF THEM DON'T. MOST OF THEM DON'T WANT PROBLEMS WITH THE POLICE BECAUSE IT WILL PREVENT THEM ON WORKING WITH THEIR LEGAL STATUS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GET DEPORTED.

3. THE MEDIA HAS ITS FAULTS. THE MEDIA PORTRAYS MOST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS RAGING GANGBANGERS WHO AIMLESSLY ROAM THE STREETS, WHILST MOST OF THEM ARE PROBABLY WORKING HARD OR AT HOME MINDING THEIR OWN BUSINESS. FOR EXAMPLE: BRITTANY SPEARS IS ON TV FOR DOING STUPID THINGS ALL THE TIME. BUT WOULD IT BE WISE TO SAY BRITTANY SPEARS IS WHAT AMERICANS ARE LIKE? DON'T THINK SO.

4. JUST HOW THERE ARE IMMIGRANTS THAT COMMIT CRIMES, THERE ARE AMERICANS WHO DO AS WELL.
TAKE A LOOK ON THIS LIST AND YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF CRIMINALS ON THERE NOT JUST BLACKS, ASIANS, HISPANICS AND ARABS BUT YES- ALSO WHITE AMERICANS! I AM WHITE AND A PROUD AMERICAN BUT I BELIEVE EVERYONE IS EQUAL SO DON'T TAKE THIS TO OFFENSE.

5. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE US CITIZENS AND WHOSE PARENTS CAME HERE ILLEGALLY BUT ARE WORKING ON GETTING PAPERS. SOME OF THESE FRIENDS, ARE 16 YEAR OLDS WITH JOBS. SOME OF THOSE FRIENDS ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY- OVER THERE IN IRAQ. ITS OFFENSIVE TO SAY EVERY IMMIGRANT IS A CRIMINAL. THOSE WHO COME HERE TO WORK SHOULD BE GIVEN AMNESTY AND DESERVE TO STAY. HOWEVER, THOSE THAT ARE RAPISTS, PEDOPHILES AND GANG AFFILIATED, SHOULD BE DEPORTED.

Jimmy J

33% of our prison population are non-citizens. What conclusion does that lead to?

The membership of some of the most violent gangs in the United States are almost 100% illegal aliens. What conclusion does that lead to?

Lou DobbsÂ®

What's an undocumented worker....oh, you mean illegal alien.

~tylergrl~

If you are in this country illegally... There shouldn't be one crime (outside of them crossing the border illegally) committed. Why try to justify with numbers. Illegal mean illegal. They are criminals just as much as the next common criminal. We should take away all freebies & watch as they "self" deport.

firewall

this is a 50/50 answer because some people came here illegally to work for a daily bread while some do involve in crimes.

Life in the slow lane

In the San Joaquin Valley of California we have over 50% Mexican-Americans and far too many illegal Mexicans. 90% of the front page news crimes are committed by these people because they live a criminal life style when they can't get work without proper papers. It's pretty disgusting the gangs the illegals lead and thrive in and the inhumanity they display to the world.

Rick

All things considered it's their children, whom aren't considered illegal immigrants. Some of these children line the ranks of organization such as MS13, just as the mafia was a product of foreign lands (but ended-up here).

One must also remember that about 2 million illegal immigrants were given amnesty in 86. All things considered, a huge portion of latin population has origins with illegal immigration. I would say roughly 4 million latinos are either children of illegal immigrants or were formerly illegal (and those are just from the from the former amnesty...not including now). I'm assuming you might be one of them...?

Now I'm not going to assume that every illegal immigrant or every latino is a bad person...that's obviously not true. I'm sure many come here with 'good' intentions.

But it is truth that many countries were held prisoner under gang activity in Mexico and El Salvador...just like Silcily. Many people that come from those places end-up being criminals or bring a structure which might support that. This is a fact.

What America was intent on doing is not exacerbating the problem, but assimilating populations in to the successful values that have proven it's desireability. Our model of government works, when latin america is politically deficient (both intellectually and physically).

When I see posts such as your own, it's not that I don't think you might have points on certain things, but I think there's an almost utter sense of racial nationalism inside you. I could be wrong, but you identify yourself as latino and you fight specifically for their interests in your post (or atleast you think you do).

Would it be appropriate if a white male did the same in his posts? I could definitely note that if you live in New Hampshire there's 98% population of whites, and crime is virtually nil (even though they the most liberal gun policy in this nation). But that doesn't really matter, does it?

I think it's sad that people whom come here or live here don't understand why success has been so prevalent. It's the culture. This is not exclusive to a race, but it's apparent that so many people...like yourself....just want to serve 'your kind'. Instead of focusing your funds and time on changing the culture of the country they come from. Instead of supporting what works...people feel entitled to a place here.

And guess what continues in latin america. Because there's no pressure to change and because they get funds from American illegal immigrants, the government and people continue down their path of corruption, political suicide, and despair. Making a nation of old people and children (destroying their productive class). Support that chief. Know what you're doing is destroying nations, not fostering change.

slew

All new poor immigrant group cause an above average amount of crime. I always consider that when passing judgement. It's the nature of the beast. It's mostly a function of poverty, but I believe that because most of them come from third world country where law enforcement is sporadic, that they bring back with them a great acceptance of corruption and an increase belief that it's only illegal if you don't get caught. Illegal immigrants are a little different, because they came in already commiting one crime, and so they are more likely to commit others. The most appearant is identity theft. It's pushing the envelope type thing. One crime is ok, so breaking this one should not be that bad and sometimes it doesn't end. It's our duty to minimize this. As for statistics, I don't trust any of them. I know how these numbers can be distorted, and that includes the ones from my fellow Anti's detailing the vast numbers of illegals that make up our prison system. As for illegal immigrants commiting crimes, my theory if we allow them here, it decreases the respect of the law by everyone. It's not so much there here as much as the societal statement that their here. It's the belief that we can pick and choose what law we should obey. Frankly I see too much of this in our government and corporations, and don't want to see a greater dilution of our respect of the law.

PS I thought I am the only one who makes references from esoteric Filipino newspaper.

open thoughts

What a crock! Take a look at the crime rates where illegals are high in numbers. Take a look at our prisons and look at the number of illegals in prison.

ABSOLUTELY, THEY CAUSE THE CRIME RATE TO INCREASE!

Flintstone Kids

It's coming to a head. It's coming to a head, ladies and gentlemen. Now last night, I hammered Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker for not being tough enough on illegal alien criminals. I talked with the mayor today. He is reconsidering his position.

Shortly after yesterday's segment, I received this letter from Anthony in New Jersey: "I'm a probation officer in this state and we are routinely issued memos by the judiciary ordering us not to contact ICE when we receive an illegal alien on probation. Despite that order, I have contacted ICE on four separate occasions because I deemed the men to be dangerous. After my call, two of them were deported and two others picked up by the Feds."

Anthony is to be commended for protecting the public. The governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine is to be challenged, even though today the Jersey attorney general ordered local police to contact ICE when a suspected alien is arrested on serious charges.

Likewise, the mayors of Portland, Oregon and Houston, Texas, both sanctuary cities, have explaining to do. In Portland Tom Potter is soft on illegal aliens, affording them every protection he can. Potter continues to do this, despite the murder of 15-year-old Danny Countryman, who was allegedly strangled by Alejandro Gamboa, an illegal with a drunk driving conviction.Clackamas County authorities never reported Gamboa to ICE after his first conviction. That murder happened near Portland, not in the city. But Portland still refuses to alert ICE about criminal alien arrests in most cases.

Likewise in Houston where Mayor Bill White watched as Juan Salinas was charged with killing a family of three in a drunk driving crash. Salinas, an illegal from Mexico, had two prior charges â€” assault and public intoxication. But ICE knew nothing about him.

The soft system in Harris County released Salinas on $1,500 bail. That's $150 cash. So he was free to kill the Williams family, including two-year-old Xavier.

Now clear thinking Americans understand the failure of local authorities to inform the Feds about illegal criminal activity is insane. Every arrest is public information. Every one. So there's no reason on this earth why ICE should not be informed immediately when aliens are taken into custody. It's just common sense.

The Feds can track criminal records in foreign countries, while the locals can't. The Feds may have the alien on a terror watch list that the locals know nothing about.

The reason Mayors Booker, Potter, White and others failed to aggressively combat alien crime is political. The men are all liberal, all Democrats. And they're playing to their perceived base.

So politics is trumping public safety. And innocent Americans are dying because of it. That's not acceptable. And Congress must now get involved and withhold funding from sanctuary cities. We'll have more on that tomorrow. And we do expect new legislation this fall dealing with specific alien crime. And that's â€œThe Memo.â€

NONAME

Yes they do. I just posted a question of my own about this particular subject relating to Hazleton, PA:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070824222739AAk3qlN&r=w

Lady Shondra

"undocumented workers" too pc...they are illegal immigrants who break the law the moment they hire a criminal to bring them here and use false papers for ids. some are as libs like to say, just here to make a living but the fact remains that they support a worse ciminal elements by using them to gain entry bypassing our laws.

more and more are criminals that are causing crime rates to increase as well as bankrupt our medical and educational systems so that our own citizens with catastrophic illness are forced to travel greater distances to receive treatment.

hazelton's suit will be a test case in the supreme court and the aclu and others knew this when the 'won'. i think you will find more local and state governments joining hazelton in passing laws to enforce the ones we already have. i know my state passed such a law last year and has not been challenged on it as yet.

brenda r

Illegals are criminals the minute they hit our soil and so hence the crime rate goes up!

Wutz it worth 2 ya?

I totally agree with the first 4 answers you got

Memnoch

I would agree with you on the point that many people over estimate the crime committed by illegal immigrants. I wonder, however, what effect raising a child under the ideology of the end justifies the mean could have from a sociological point of view. After all, I believe people are effected by their environment and while they can break from said environment the child of a smoker will most likely smoke. So, if that environment is one that reads crime is tolerable if it is for the betterment of ones family I do wonder what the children of such an environment would learn. Well, just a thought anyways.

Oh and as a side note, human smuggling is a danger to any who live in the southern United States as smugglers are willing to not only kill those they are transporting but anyone who accidentally gets in their way. Many fatal accidents are caused by human smuggling, though legal citizens are usually the ones guilty of the smuggling. However, if their were no buyers their would be no sellers. Just another thought.

KD7ONE

Yes.

ClogMaster

I live in southern border city with approximately 25% of the population being immigrant. Our crime rate is very low compared to other cities, and I don't really know why that is. We have a lot of very poor people here, but they were a lot poorer on the other side of the border! I would say most non-citizens, legal or illegal don't want any trouble with the police because that can get them deported.

kkecs07

They add to the crime by even coming near our borders. They ARE the crime.

MEXICANBABY

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VIVA MEXICO Y LA RAZA MEXICANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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