Childish Morality Play at the Border



Is it “morally unacceptable” to separate children from migrants arrested at the border? Editorialists at the Wall Street Journal think so, but no U.S. jail that we know of allows children to stay with their parents behind bars. And, in any event, an agreement accepted by the Obama administration bars migrant families with children from being detained for more than 20 days

Before President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security got serious with a Zero-Tolerance policy, children served as get-out-of-jail-free cards for border crashers. Families were routinely released with a notice to appear in immigration court at a future date. They rarely showed, and melted into the general population of illegal aliens.

Not surprisingly, some among the latest wave of migrants say they put children in harm’s way, figuring that the presence of their young charges would gain them an earlier release. Others admit to posing falsely with children who are not their own. Border Patrol officials say such fraud is on the rise.

Who’s sliding down the moral slippery slope now?

Border apprehensions of adults bringing children skyrocketed during the Obama administration, from about 15,000 in Fiscal Year 2013 (the first time separate statistics were reported) to more than 75,000 in FY 2017.

Now, dodging the thorny matters of familial responsibility and the exploitation of minors by profiteering human smugglers, craven politicians and credulous media outlets raise the grim specter of childhood “concentration camps” in America. It’s time for a reality check.

According to one news report, the federal government spends $34,660 annually on each unaccompanied minor. That’s three times what the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates American middle-class families spend on their youngsters, and multiple times more American children in poverty will ever see.

Heeding the echo chamber of criticism against the DHS family separation policy, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, proposes increasing the number of immigration judges to expedite hearings at the border. The Justice Department is already on the case, dispatching new judges to tackle an ever-lengthening docket.

But those who swallow specious moral platitudes and bow to manipulated media do a disservice to the nation – are compromising the rule of law and inviting more chaos at the border.

“Demanding that border-jumpers bringing children with them should be exempt from prosecution is a sure-recipe for even more children to be smuggled through Mexico and to the Rio Grande,” notes Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies.

As DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said this week: “We will not apologize for doing our job.”

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  1. avatar

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Criminal Alien Report for Fiscal Year 2018 Year to Date

    June 18, 2018

    By David Olen Cross

    United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is an important element of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who along with other elements of DHS collectively work together in attempting to keep our nations citizens and residents safe from foreign national threats to public safety.

    A critical responsibility of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is preventing foreign nationals (criminal aliens) who have been convicted of domestic or foreign crimes and deported from the country from illegally entering or reentering the United States of America.

    The U.S. Border Patrol Criminal Alien Statistics webpage is an excellent source for information that indicates the number of criminal aliens CBP caught, interdicted or prevented from entering the country. Moreover, the Criminal Alien Statistics webpage reveals the types of prior criminal convictions that prohibited them by federal law from being legally present in the country.

    For Fiscal Year 2018 Year to Date (FY2018YTD), October 1, 2017 – May 31, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has taken into custody and arrested 4,886 criminal aliens (Note: CBP’s Fiscal Year runs from October 1, 2017 – September 1, 2018).

    Listed below are the total criminal convictions of the 4,886 criminal aliens by types and numbers of crimes for FY2018YTD; the most recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection criminal alien numbers available were posted on the CBP webpage on June 8, 2018 (Note: The preceding CBP number of criminal aliens doesn’t match the actual number of illegal alien criminals because some aliens had more than one criminal conviction.).

    Types of Criminal Convictions Number Criminal Convictions

    – Assault, battery, domestic violence 407;

    – Burglary, robbery, larceny, theft, fraud 256;

    – Driving under the influence 844;

    – Homicide, manslaughter 2;

    – Illegal drug possession, trafficking 641;

    – Illegal entry, re-entry 2,812;

    – Illegal weapons possession, transport, trafficking 78;

    – Sexual offenses 55;

    – Other offenses 1,032.

    Total Number of Criminal Convictions: 6,127

    Explaining the preceding numbers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection took into custody and arrested for FY2018YTD 4,886 criminal aliens having 6,127 previous criminal convictions.

    To help politicians, electronic / hardcopy media outlets or interest persons put a real world face on some of the 4,886 criminal aliens that were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for illegally entering or reentering the country during FY2018YTD the CBP Newsroom webpage is a starting point to look for local or national media releases on criminal aliens.

    Wanting to find out if U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained and arrested any criminal aliens convicted of crimes in the State of Oregon, I clicked on the upper left side of the CBP Newsroom webpage on News Releases and opened the Media Releases webpage.

    Near the top of the CBP Media Releases webpage I set the date search criteria to reflect the FY2018YTD time period (October 1, 2017 – May 31, 2018), set the Media Releases box to read Local Media Releases, typed in the Keywords box Oregon, clicked the Apply button and multiple stories that fit the parameters of my search appeared in the form of individual press releases.

    Here are excerpts and hyperlinks to five U.S. Customs and Border Protection press releases about criminal aliens with past criminal convictions apprehended by CBP for illegal reentry into the country with a past connection to Oregon:

    “Yuma Border Patrol Agents Arrest Rapist with Kidnapping and Burglary Convictions

    Friday, May 25, 2018 | Local Media Release

    YUMA, Ariz. – Border Patrol agents patrolling the area of San Luis, Arizona arrested a Mexican national with previous felony convictions of first-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, and first-degree burglary early Thursday evening. Photo Courtesy…” Read More >

    “Yuma Border Patrol Agents Arrest Convicted Rapist

    Thursday, March 29, 2018 | Local Media Release

    YUMA, Ariz. – Yuma Station Border Patrol agents arrested a previously deported Mexican national with multiple felony convictions late Tuesday. At approximately 9:30 p.m., agents arrested Jose Arajo-Dominguez, a 50-year-old Mexican national, after he…” Read More >

    “Border Patrol Agents Arrest Man Convicted of Manslaughter

    Monday, March 12, 2018 | Local Media Release

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Station Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican man Sunday afternoon shortly after he illegally entered the United States south of Three Points. The agents later learned of his first-degree manslaughter conviction in Oregon….” Read More >

    “Border Patrol Agents Arrest Convicted Felon

    Friday, January 19, 2018 | Local Media Release

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Ajo Station arrested a previously-deported Mexican man Thursday afternoon and later discovered he was convicted and incarcerated for Class A felonies in 2007. Agents patrolling near…” Read More >

    “Ajo Agents Arrest Illegal Alien Convicted of Rape and Assault

    Tuesday, January 16, 2018 | Local Media Release

    TUCSON, Ariz. – Border Patrol agents assigned to the Ajo Station arrested a Mexican man Sunday morning with a conviction for rape and assault in Marion County, Oregon in 2012. Agents patrolling in Lukeville, Arizona, arrested five men illegally…” Read More >

    Following the preceding how to instructions, politicians, electronic / hardcopy media outlets or interest persons, if they aren’t already doing so, can now to put a face on some of the 4,886 criminal aliens, possibly with a connection to their state or location, with past criminal convictions who were arrested and detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for illegal entry or reentry into the United State of America.

    David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon is crime researcher who writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. The preceding report is a service to federal, state, county and city elected and non elected governmental officials to help them assess the impact of foreign national crime in the United States of America. He can be reached at [email protected]. His past crime reports can be found at http://docfnc.wordpress.com/.

    https://docfnc.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/u-s-customs-and-border-protection-criminal-alien-report-for-fiscal-year-2018-year-to-date/

  2. avatar
    The American on

    Is it “morally unacceptable” to separate children from migrants arrested at the border?

    YES SIR IT IS…

    • avatar
      Voice of Reason on

      Actually no, it isn’t but it is unnecessary and expensive. What should happen is the illegals and their children if any should be marched back across the border immediately and released. Those caught here a second time should be summarily executed.

      • avatar

        The tactics that these “migrants” are employing is a particularly lowly instance of morally unacceptable barbarian invasion technique known as “human shields”.

        It is particularly lowly because the original use of the said tactics by the invading hordes involved captured relatives of the defenders as the human shields, while now the modern invaders use their own children (or children of their compatriots) for that purpose.

        Think about it: do you want these opportunistic people who resort to such morally unacceptable (in addition to being illegal) actions to become your neighbors, your travel mates, your co-workers, and your fellow Americans? (I don’t.) They are not going to change just because they hopped the border. Just look what they and their compatriots did to their countries of origin – they are likely to inflict the same kind of damage to ours.

        Here is more on the topic of Human Shields:

        http://www.federalobserver.com/2013/01/29/dwyer-human-shields/

      • avatar

        Expensive it is. When that money could be used in a better way. When the kids are going to have better than in mexico. How many millions of dollars are paid to deport and for jury or whatever?
        How many kids are separated from their parents that go to war and never return? And aren’t doing anything illegal. What are we doing but paying their way back Deport and legal fees and so much more rather than enforcing the laws and let them know we have LAWS.

    • avatar

      Then their damn parents should be held accountable. They did this purposely to sneak into this country..using their children like that. Send them all the hell back where they came from.. ba bye…

    • avatar

      Then you must be OUTRAGED when an American citizen parent has their child removed from them by CPS: for a spanking? for allowing a 12 y/o to play in the park alone? for following their doctor’s orders but gov’t decided doctor was wrong? OR do you think it is only “morally wrong” to take a child from a parent who subjects a child to thousands of miles of dangerous conditions with little to no water knowing there are groups of criminals/rapists waiting for them, paying a “mule” to lead them thousands of miles knowing they may be abandoned as soon as they pay, etc etc etc. In America the left cares NOTHING about the moral outrage of taking a child away for a simple spanking. BUT the left wants a parent to keep a child after they have intentionally taken that child though thousands of miles of hell when they could have stopped as soon as the were in Mexico and asked for asylum? The left’s “values” and “moral outrage” are laughable. The border conditions were 100 times worse under Obama but zero “moral outrage.” The leaders of the left (Pelsoi, Schumer, Obama) told the media to not make the border a media talking point while Obama in office but under Trump it is suddenly a “moral outrage.” Are you so blinded by hate that you cannot see the hypocrisy in this faux “moral outrage?”

      • avatar

        Thank you, Buck! Where is the outrage over the kids, such as Justina Pelletier, being forcibly removed from parents, who did nothing wrong, and subjected to abuse and torture? The left believes that parents have no rights (“It Takes a Village”) so you are absolutely right calling this border disorder “faux moral outrage”. I can see social services agencies nationwide salivating at the prospect of having all these new victims to “care” for, and get paid for.

    • avatar
      Bill Schlechtweg on

      So send them back across the border to the southern most border of Mexico. If they want to be with their children. Mexico has already offered them asylum they just want the American dream given to them. Free medical, room and board. Yes tell them they just need to go back and come in the right way. Real Americans are treated worse than these illegals and they are forgotten. I mean the ones that are homeless sleeping in tents , boxes, under bridges, and yes they exist all over the United States. They don’t know where their next meal is coming from. It may be in a dumpster near you. Oh yes many wait until Mc. Donalds, Burger King or many other business’s close for the night just to get their next meal. Why don’t we worry about them first before these illegals. Ok remember I said keep their families togeather just send them back across the border to do it right. We do not owe immigrants anything and if they can’t help our country we do not need them.

    • avatar

      The American: In America ( as well *** ALL other Countries) if a “parent” commits a crime, they will be “separated” from their children. It is called JAIL! Crossing ANY Countries Border without proper visa is a CRIME, oh YES that does include AMERICA! You idiot moron!

  3. avatar

    **** yes separate them all just like happens to every “AMERICAN” citizen who is arrested or detained these are Illegal criminals and should be treated as such !!!! And as far as these little **** heads go ” living in these shelters is a better life than these little fuckers ever had it in their third world shithole countries they would be more comfortable I we just dumped their asses in the middle of the Mexican desert then it wouldn’t be such a culture shock having to deal with squares a day , a bed with clean linen and air conditioning !!! Deport them all as soon as they are caught

  4. avatar

    Sentence 1: Yes.
    Sentence 2: Why are we comparing entering the US to being jailed for a crime?

    • avatar
      Gary Hawkins on

      It is all called BREAKING THE LAW, it used to be “if you broke the law, you went to jail”. You might have to read real slow so to understand this.

    • avatar

      Answer 2: Not a comparison. Entering the US by avoiding legal entry points is a crime for which one is jailed. Those who enter through legal entry points are not jailed, ergo not separated.

  5. avatar

    Wow, is the US going to be managed now by the illegal immigrants? What about happened to the law against harboring illegal aliens? I am sure, the US citizens who will harbor them will serve time and unable to join their children in jail while the illegal aliens are being supported morally and politically. Whatever happened to the US Constitution? Is it now the law for the illegal aliens and by the illegal aliens? Aren’t the Democrats not realizing, that we, the US Citizens are working so hard to make ends meet and we are taxed for every penny we earn while monies are disbursed to the illegal aliens tax exempt? Just confused where we are headed in the future, am I still able to collect SSC? The gov keeps on raising our age to collect SSC, so that illegal aliens can be accommodated first. We, the US Citizens are deprived to collect SSC. We can’t afford to live on SSC if we retire at 60 years old, that is why so many retirees who make up to $1500 live outside of the US to be able to afford decent rental houses or apartments with minimal utilities and food consumptions. The gov can track down how many retirees have opted to leave the US, and the make less income than what we provide each illegal alien (child or adult).

  6. avatar

    The amount of media time spent on this issue, which is 95% anti-Trump, is vastly out of proportion to the attention paid to it under the Obama administration. Even local stations are doing long segments on it, which they never did back then. As noted, a lot of these people are bringing children who are NOT THEIR OWN, essentially making human shields out of them to gain what they want.

    The real question that should be asked is if these people are willing to bring children not their own, what happens if those children become a drag on their desert crossing. Leave them if they become inconvenient? Or once they were allowed entry into this country and released with those children, what is the incentive to care for those children now that they have served their usefulness. Not my worry anymore.

    A lot of people have made the observation that this has been actually going on for several months but now it dominates every news cast at the same time little attention is paid to the report of the Inspector General of the FBI, who was questioned by a House committee today. Rep. Trey Gowdy made a damning rebuke of the claim of “no bias” against Trump. He pointed out the numerous statements by lead investigators of the Clinton e-mail issue and the Trump collusion investigation, who happened to be the exact same people.
    There were numerous texts about how Hillary ‘has to win” and one text by the lead investigator who said “we will stop him from becoming president”. That is not a mere statement of dislike, but can only be read as taking some kind of action to insure that. In fact, he was the same guy who said we have to have “an insurance policy” if he gets elected. Had the roles been reversed and it was agents willing to do anything so Hillary would not win, the media would have it in the headlines for weeks.