More Illegals,
More Crime
Thursday, October 16, 2008
By Tom Fitton
Judicial Watch President
Judicial Watch is leading a major nationwide campaign against
illegal immigration sanctuary
policies that prevent local police officers from cooperating with federal
immigration officials. One of our key arguments against these policies
(and there are many) is that they put American citizens at risk by allowing
illegal alien criminals onto the streets to commit more crimes when they should
be deported.
On October 2nd, the Maricopa County, Arizona District Attorney’s
office released crime
statistics that prove this point. Overall, while illegals represent
only nine percent of the population in Maricopa County (which includes Phoenix)
they are responsible for approximately 22% of the crimes committed. Here
is a breakdown of statistics by crime category. Illegal aliens account
for:
- 33.5% of those sentenced for manufacture, sale or transport of
drugs.
- 35.8% of those sentenced for kidnapping.
- 20.3% of those sentenced for felony DUI.
- 16.5% of those sentenced for violent crimes.
- 18.5% of those sentenced for property crimes.
- 44% of those sentenced for forgery and fraud.
- 85.3% of those convicted of criminal impersonation or false ID.
- 96% of those convicted of human smuggling.
You may recall, Judicial Watch has been very active in Phoenix,
working closely with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Phoenix businesses
victimized by illegal alien crime to change the city’s policies. And our
strategy paid off last December.
Facing the threat of a Judicial Watch lawsuit, Phoenix Mayor Phil
Gordon reluctantly reversed himself on the city’s sanctuary policy on December
3, 2007, and then commissioned a panel to study the issue. In May, Police
Chief Jack Harris announced key reforms to the policy.
We don’t yet know whether Mayor Gordon is truly committed to
enforcing immigration laws or whether, in the face of enormous public
opposition and Judicial Watch pressure, he was simply making a politically
expedient decision. (In the past, Gordon has actually requested that the
Department of Justice investigate local police officials for “discriminatory
harassment” when they attempt to enforce the law.)
Here’s what we do know: When local police departments
implement sanctuary policies, crime goes up. When local police
departments enforce immigration law, crime goes down. It’s that simple.
I personally don’t see too much of a difference between McCain’s
and Obama’s views on immigration and I expect both will largely continue Bush’s
policies, with even less emphasis on enforcement. So the key battles
could be at the state and local levels, where Judicial Watch is already
active.
Tom Fitton is president of Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch is
a non-partisan, educational foundation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue code. Judicial Watch is dedicated to fighting government and
judicial corruption and promoting a return to ethics and morality in our
nation's public life.
To make a tax-deductible contribution in support
of our efforts, click
here.
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For further information please refer to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
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