LatinaLista — In a rare move that made international headlines, the Mexican Consulate issued a travel warning to its citizens to avoid Irving, Texas.
The Consul noted that an excessive amount of Mexican nationals were being picked up and referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Consul felt that the Irving police department was guilty of racial profiling.
Come to find out that was only part of the problem. The other part was that the local law officers were abusing the partnership program ICE created to work with local law enforcement to help identify criminal unauthorized immigrants. The program is called the “Criminal Alien Program” (CAP).
In fact, Irving officials have abused the program to the point where even ICE has said enough is enough.
In a memo provided to The Dallas Morning News, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials told city officials to “stop referring illegal immigrants who have been arrested for Class C misdemeanors.”
The original intent of the Criminal Alien Program is to identify anyone who is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor or above or who poses a threat to national security or public safety.
Class C misdemeanors, such as driving without a license, do not constitute a national security threat.
Since Irving officials enacted the CAP program, monthly protests of the tactics of the Irving police department have been widely criticized and seen as a way to not root out real criminals but to subject the city’s entire Latino immigrant community to intimidation and abuse, using the CAP program as a shield for their actions.
Nobody believed the protesters until the local newspaper and community activists released documentation on the percentage of Class C misdemeanors Irving officials were using as an excuse to call in ICE to start deportation hearings against those detained.
According to figures, 60% of the 1,700 suspected illegal immigrants turned over to ICE were guilty of nothing more than a Class C misdemeanor.
The abuse of the CAP program in this way has resulted in anecdotal stories being shared among the Irving immigrant community that people no longer trust the police to help them.
It’s bad enough that adults, who are much likelier to be victims of serious crimes feel they cannot turn to police for help, but for children to see the police in the same light negatively impacts the respect children have for official authority figures.
With no respect for authority, chaos is bound to evolve.
Whether ICE was so inundated because of Irving’s vigilante approach to the program or the numbers underscored a valid point critics voiced, ICE finally did what was right in issuing the order to Irving officials.
Time will tell if Irving officials can change their ways and if the damage already done to community relations is irreversible.
Comment(19)
Laly
Happy Mexican Revolution day, November 20.
Frank
Time for a new revolution in Mexico so that Mexicans will stop crossing our borders illegally.
Crock
Time for a new revolution in Mexico so that Mexicans will stop crossing our borders illegally.
May be a communist revolution will make you happy.
Frank
No, just your regular kind of revolution by citizens having the guts to fight for their rights in their own countries.
Crock
In that case, shall we have our own revolution?
miguel
frank said …Time for a new revolution in Mexico so that Mexicans will stop crossing our borders illegally.
Frank from your position of power, is there any way to convince the US to invade Mexico just like they did Iraq? Any bogus reason (like illegal invasion) will do. Arm the oppressed people, that now will get shot if they turn on the armed government, then have US troops leave.
Mission accomplished in a few hours and your nightmare will be over. If you can stomach having your name associated with helping Mexicans, maybe call it the Frank Doctrine.
Frank
miguel, do you want the U.S. to invade Mexico? Actually I am opposed to our military invading other countries and interfering in their policies and us being responsible for getting innocent citizens killed. I would prefer that the Mexican people show some guts and reach out to their own government for change Surely there are educated Mexicans that could be their leaders.
Perhaps our government could get involved by assisting them in creating jobs that pay a liveable wage and stressing education. I am all for deplomacy in handling the matter. But one thing should be made perfectly clear that we are not going to tolerate the invasion of our border by millions of poor Mexican citizens anymore. The Mexican government would then be forced to help it’s own people.
miguel
frank wrote:
I would prefer that the Mexican people show some guts and reach out to their own government for change Surely there are educated Mexicans that could be their leaders.
The having guts is something you should not question about our people frank. Do not equate educated to intelligence either. That might cloud over how you see what is going on. Being stupid and standing up without arms to the present government would get the innocent people you are concerned about mowed down in the streets. Your idea there is not so wise. You have seen the killings in recent times. It is not like it is here for you that people truly have some free speech.
Lets us worry about the guts and intelligence. You seem to have a fixation as seeing our people as less than able. Your colors bleeding to the surface frank?
Today might just serve as a reminder to our Day of Thanksgiving yet to come.
Frank, arm the 60 million Mexicans here and send them back. That might have the effect you wish. Count on you for support?
Where was your voice when Iraq came into the cross hairs?
Frank
miguel, thruout history peasants have risen up along with their more educated leaders and sought changes in their countries. Why are Mexicans any different? How are they going to find out if they don’t try? If Mexicans can’t fix their own country, than who can?
There aren’t 60 million Mexicans in this country. There are about 40 million Hispanic citizens. Hispanic citizens are not Mexicans, they are Americans. I have no desire to send citizens back to the country of their ancestors unlike the reconquistas who say that about Americans of European descent.
It is up to Mexicans in Mexico to fix their country!
I don’t know what Iraq has to do with this. I am not nor never was in favor of that war.
Horace
Frank, illegal alien advocates are the paternalistic enablers of the suppression of Mexicans. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he catches his own food. Those who propose amnesty only condemn those who remain in Mexico to a life of exploitation by the ruling class. This country ought to be fomenting revolution in Mexico, instead of relieving the worries of the oppressors of the Mexican people. There’s a place in hell for such well meaning but a destructive element in our society.
miguel
Horace posted: This country ought to be fomenting revolution in Mexico, instead of relieving the worries of the oppressors of the Mexican people.
So Horace, you want the US to incite revolution in Mexico to achieve what goal? Stop spending your money? Human life has a value that it seems you fail to recognize.
The US only invades countries with oil. Money
Frank
Mexico doesn’t have oil? Last I heard it has plenty. As I said, I don’t wish the U.S. to invade Mexico or any other country for any reason. If people aren’t going to stand up for their rights in their own countries, then perhaps they aren’t worth saving then. Harsh, yes but truthful.
Horace
A revolution is an internal affair, where the indigenous peoples rise up and overthrow their oppressors. The U.S. should throw its moral and financial support and send arms and ammunition to those with the courage to fight the corrupt government. People like Calderon and Fox should be hung from trees with piano wire, like the Italians did to Mussolini.
Horace
Frank, the wealth of Mexico and it’s potential for making that country prosperous for all, is one of those inconvenient truths that illegal alien advocates want you to overlook in their effort to blame the U.S. for all of Mexico’s problems and declare all eligible for amnesty and U.S. citizenship. It’s easier to attack the U.S. than to attack Mexico, as that would be viewed as an assault on Hispanic culture, and expose that country’s national shame.
Horace
“Happy Mexican Revolution day, November 20.”
Let’s hope that the next one comes soon.
As to my identity, which Marisa derides as phoney, what difference does that make? Most people here remain as anonymous with their real names as with a pen name. For example, I have no idea who miguel is, or who Frank is for that matter. A person would have to publish their name, address, a picture and an autobiography in order to become a significant.
Diana Joe
A person would have to publish their name, address, a picture and an autobiography in order to become a significant.
Posted by Horace | 26 de Noviembre 2007 a las 12:00 PM
{in order to become a significant.}-there you are folks thats all we need to know about the goons…we can all sleep now.
Frank
Another childish remark by Diana Joe.
diana joe
Thank-you Frank.
~*~*~*~*~*~****~*~*~*~*
“It is, and it should always be through the spirit, and through the eyes of children that “We Adults” should humble ourselves by”.
-~*-*~D.Joe
I love you Frank.
– I really do.
Its been the greastest time of my life having fun through you..now you can relax.
Change has always occured in fact, the Moon that you are made priviledged to live, laugh, and love under has the greatest of teachings..she is a female entity.In fact thats why there’s that famous lunatic observation-even police agencies proclaim that crime RISES on a full moon phase-hmm spirit really will prevail!
The best things in life are the things we as a civilised few are willing to share wholeheartedly with one and the others?
Reminds me of the Bill of Rights Proclaimation?!
No i am not Robert Frost, or Poe, Or even Socrates,but I will tell you Frank I am never going to insist that my desire to make a difference for others be super-imposed as in now Americans its time for ALL to give thanks…oppression has never been something to be thankful for.
Frank
People with real courage will get themselves out out of oppression. But that shouldn’t include breaking reasonable laws in place to protect others.
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