On Monday, the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times published a piece lamenting the fact that many illegal aliens have been deported as a result of the federal Secure Communities program (“Secure Communities: A flawed deportation tool”).
The article states: “In Los Angeles County, for example, nearly half of the 11,774 deported under the program from August 2009 to January 2011 had no convictions or had committed misdemeanors. They were targeted for deportation because the program doesn't distinguish between criminals and those who illegally entered the U.S. or overstayed a visa — a civil violation.”
However, there is no reason to “distinguish between criminals and those who illegally entered the U.S.”
Despite the popular misconception, perpetuated by the open-borders crowd…entering the country illegally is in fact, a crime.
It is a misdemeanor to enter the United States illegally, punishable by up to six months in prison. Re-entering the country illegally is a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison.
Federal immigration law reads:
“Section 1325 [of Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part VIII]. [U.S. Code as of: 01/06/03]
Improper entry by alien
(a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection;
misrepresentation and concealment of facts
Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States
at any time or place other than as designated by immigration
officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration
officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United
States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the
willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first
commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or
imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent
commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or
imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.”
Of course, while these penalties exist, they are rarely handed-out.
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