rssSchumer to Propose Crackdown on Drop-Houses for Smuggled Immigrants
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 10:57 am
- 3 Comments
Maybe the proposal was already in the works, but on Wednesday — the same day The Wall Street Journal reported on the problem of Mexican gangs smuggling undocumented immigrants into the country and then holding them hostage — Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) assured Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that he’d introduce a law to help put a stop to that. Schumer’s proposal would allow agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to seize the houses where the immigrants are being stored if ICE can prove that they’re used by smugglers to hold illegal immigrants. The immigrants are often held hostage until either they or their future employer who paid to smuggle them into the country pays a ransom.
Current U.S. law requires the homeowner to be convicted of a smuggling-related crime before federal agents can seize the house, and ICE agents have complained this makes seizure too difficult.
Schumer’s idea, which is reportedly supported by the Obama administration, is nothing new. Back in July 2005, the Government Accountability Office suggested giving federal agents this civil forfeiture authority, which it already has to confiscate things like boats used to smuggle drugs.
The problem with the proposal, though, as the GAO noted in its report and testimony to Congress, is that most of these houses are rented by smugglers, who themselves often take off before the feds can arrest them, and they become fugitives. It’s not clear what good seizing the house does at that point. Moreover, it’s often not clear whether the owner of the home even knows how it’s being used by its tenants. Presumably that’s why the current law only allows the government to seize the house after proving the homeowner knowingly facilitated the smuggling operation.
“This policy needs to be fixed right away,” Schumer told The Associated Press on Wednesday after a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “It can put a serious dent in the operations of the Mexican cartels that deal in human trafficking.”
It could also put a dent in the Southwestern rental market, particularly for Mexican renters.
3 Comments
Comment posted June 12, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
Oh whoppy, Chucky is going to get tough on alien smuggling. At the very same time he is spear heading another AMNESTY attempt for 12 million illegal aliens. The American people rejected President Bush's attempt to do the same thing in 2007, so what has changed?
Oh, I know, unemployment is soaring for legal aliens and Americans. We are dire financial straits. So why another political attempt at AMNESTY – simple the Dems want the votes and the elephants think they will get cheap labor for their corporate supporters.
Chucky is a charlatan, because he has to know that ICE already has the authority to seize assets of organized alien smuggling organizations, which includes real estate, vehicles, cash etc…
Chucky is using this get tough image to enhance his chances to get AMNESTY passed. You know, he's trying to appear “fair and balanced.” Nonsense!
For the first time since the great depression we have reverse migration, due in large part, to our failing economy. But none the less they are leaving. The border is getting tighter and tighter. We finally can see light at the end of the tunnel on illegal immigration. Why would we want an AMNESTY now???
Chucky needs votes!!!
Comment posted June 12, 2009 @ 10:22 pm
Oh whoppy, Chucky is going to get tough on alien smuggling. At the very same time he is spear heading another AMNESTY attempt for 12 million illegal aliens. The American people rejected President Bush's attempt to do the same thing in 2007, so what has changed?
Oh, I know, unemployment is soaring for legal aliens and Americans. We are dire financial straits. So why another political attempt at AMNESTY – simple the Dems want the votes and the elephants think they will get cheap labor for their corporate supporters.
Chucky is a charlatan, because he has to know that ICE already has the authority to seize assets of organized alien smuggling organizations, which includes real estate, vehicles, cash etc…
Chucky is using this get tough image to enhance his chances to get AMNESTY passed. You know, he's trying to appear “fair and balanced.” Nonsense!
For the first time since the great depression we have reverse migration, due in large part, to our failing economy. But none the less they are leaving. The border is getting tighter and tighter. We finally can see light at the end of the tunnel on illegal immigration. Why would we want an AMNESTY now???
Chucky needs votes!!!
Comment posted July 10, 2009 @ 7:06 am
The usurper Obama was NOT smuggled in. As a ten-year-old he was flown to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandparents while his mother???
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