Jail growth explodes as Feds crack down on illegal migrants


DEL RIO, Texas — Many in Congress are counting on border walls to discourage illegal immigration and dope smuggling from Mexico. Here in Del Rio, Texas, authorities are using prison walls instead.

The ever-expanding Val Verde County jail is filled with would-be yardmen and maids, immigrants awaiting deportation. They've been caught in a law enforcement dragnet known as "Operation Streamline,'' a zero tolerance program that began here and has since spread both east and west along the Mexican border.

Critics of the lock-'em-up approach question the skyrocketing costs, complain of poor conditions inside the detention facilities, and predict that ultimately the efforts won't stop immigrants and drugs from making their way north.

But supporters say the approach is reducing crime and discouraging immigrants from trying to cross into the United States. The number of illegal immigrants caught in the Border Patrol's Del Rio Sector is at its lowest level since the early 1970s.

"Enforcement works,'' said Val Verde County Sheriff D'Wayne Jernigan. "We're definitely seeing a reduction in crime throughout the border area and a reduction in the number of aliens running loose in our community.''


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/38555.html

I feel for my fellow humans on this issue. I wish there was another way to do this, it is sad and heartwrenching to see this happen to them.

They shouldn't be breaking the law. If they want to come into this country, they should do it Legally. It sounds cold but these people are criminals and we shouldn't be allowing them into the country without the proper registration.

I believe the average cost of an inmate is around $25,000-26,000 / year, right? That's insane if you imagine how many illegals they must be arresting.

Yea, the cost is going to shoot out the roof but those out there who hate, do not care about the cost as long as their agenda is being enforced. Besides their propaganda crap claims they are costing us horrendus amounts of money being here with welfare they can't recieve and foodstamps they can't recieve, etc... and so on. So they will say the cost will happen either way. I just think it is terrible this is what it has come down to.

it's a choice they made to break the law, and enter this country illegally. When people breake the law they go to jail or prison,,,,We all know this!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry, but I can't pity them. They broke the law. I have no problem with someone coming over from another country. I want them to come legally.

They ARE on welfare, foodstamps, social security and God knows what else but they aren't paying taxes. They are a drain on the economy.

They cannot recieve welfare and foodstamps unless illegally and the quota of violators in no way adds up to the propaganda, which by the way does not come from government sites, check it out.

They do pay taxes, they buy all of their goods here.

A human who feels for other humans cannot help but feel for them. They are chasing a better life, be they wrong or right and I feel the humanity of the situation.

When we lose our humanity we are no better than animals, so I will continue to feel for my fellow humans.

See Myth # 9

http://www.nyccah.org/node/31

well if the condition where they come from are so bad that they come here illegally then as long as they are fed and kept out of the weather per say

then the conditions must not be worse than from where they came

breaking the law is supposed to lead to punishment for the crime
and if there being jailed to await deportation gives them better conditions than they left why would they not wanna continue trying

maybe they should make a tent jail like the guy an az for the illegals awaiting deportation and feed them a tad worse than what they would have if they stayed where they came from

Eventually these private prisons will run out of illegals to stuff in there, then guess who they will target? Who am I joking, they already target the American people by spending billions every year lobbying to get harsher and harsher laws put on the books. It's a matter of history to see that these kinds of systems always get turned on the citizenry before its over with.

Yay, whoooo whhooo, tippee ki yeah, alright! about time, good work boys, Yayyyyyyy!!!

They shouldn't be jailing, they should be deporting.

Have to finger print, take DNA, and process them for possible reentry identification. After getting caught reentering we should charge them with a felony!

I knew you would like this, Fanta. It saddens me to see us humans treat other humans like this.

I agree. Catch them and put them in jail until they are deported. I see nothing wrong with that. If there own government would treat them better they would be in better shape. They would rather just ship their problems to us. We have enough problems of our own to work out.