Criminal Deportations On The Rise

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been especially active recently, sweeping through the Upper Midwest rounding up "criminal aliens" for deportation. Some are caught in the net for minor offenses, such as driving without a license (the perfect Catch-22) or simply overstaying a deportation order. The quickened enforcement is the Bush administration's answer to criticism from the GOP right on immigration. But, as the Washington Post reports, the tougher enforcement is a strain the immigration courts. While Congress as provided for more enforcement -- even programs to monitor courts and jails for the "criminal alien" -- perhaps some kid picked up for puffing marijuana -- it hadn't allotted greater funds for immigration court. So as a consequence, aliens are getting quick -- and unfair -- justice in complicated cases.