ICE's Biggest and Least Understood Enforcement Program
February 17, 2010
Washington, D.C.- The Criminal Alien Program (CAP)--a program administered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)--is designed to screen inmates in prisons and jails, identify deportable non-citizens, and place them into deportation proceedings. However, in the years 
since CAP was initiated, there have been concerns about whether or not ICE is actually targeting immigrants with serious criminal records.
Today, the IPC releases a new Special Report, The Criminal Alien Program: Immigration Enforcement in Travis County Texas by Andrea Guttin, Esq., which provides a history and analysis of ICE's problematic enforcement program, as well as a case study of CAP implementation in Travis County, Texas.
While ICE claims that CAP's focus is "dangerous criminal aliens," the data show that legal as well as unauthorized immigrants with a wide range of criminal history--or no criminal history at all--are being identified for deportation. Other concerns surrounding the CAP include racial profiling, pre-textual arrests, immigrant distrust of local police, underreporting of domestic violence and finally, misuse of immigrant detainers--which are being used by CAP and other immigration enforcement programs (such as Secure Communities).
The CAP report shows that:
CAP is the program responsible 48% of all deportable immigrants identified by ICE in FY 2009-more than the 287(g) program, Fugitive Operations, and the Office of Field Operations combined.
A large percentage of immigrants apprehended under CAP are not criminals at all. An October 2009 DHS report found that 57 percent of immigrants identified through the CAP program in FY 2009 had no criminal convictions, up from 53 percent in FY 2008.
In Travis County, a majority of immigrants placed under detainer were arrested for a misdemeanor as their most serious charge. In 2008, 58 percent of the detainers were placed on those charged with misdemeanors-up from 38 percent in 2007 and 34 percent in 2006.
To read the report and additional resources in their entirety, see:
The Criminal Alien Program: Immigration Enforcement in Travis County, Texas (IPC Special Report, February 17, 2010)
The Criminal Alien Program: Immigration Enforcement in Prisons and Jails (IPC Summary, February 17, 2010)
Immigration Detainers: A Comprehensive Look (IPC Fact Check, February 17, 2010)
The Criminal Alien Program
Many Happy Returns: Remittances and Their Impact
Money Sent Home by Migrant Workers Helps American Economy Too
February 10, 2010
Washington D.C. - Today, the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) released a report, Many Happy Returns: Remittances and Their Impact by Kristin Johnson, Ph.D. which analyzes remittances and their effect on the economies of both the U.S. and receiving countries. Remittances - the transfer of money by workers back to home countries - can constitute one of the top financial inflows to many developing countries, in some cases exceeding international aid. Mexico and the Philippines are the top receiving countries from the U.S. and are also large consumers of U.S. goods. In addtion, in the wake of Haiti's overwhelming humanitarian crisis, remittances will assume a central role in providing critical resources to the population. Some critics argue that remittances are a loss to the U.S. economy, however, the latest IPC report shows that remittances are actually used to buy goods from U.S. companies, showing that remittances actually benefit both the sending and receiving countries.
From the report:
"Remittance outflows likely provide long term benefits to the U.S. economy. Remittances boost the consumption of U.S. exports, resulting in expansion of U.S. business and trade competitiveness. Ultimately, sending money abroad expands the consumer base able to purchase U.S. goods, a critical facet in maintaining a strong U.S. economy."
The IPC also released a Fact Check on the key role remittances will play in Haitian recovery efforts and how that will in turn help U.S. exports which notes:
"Over half of Haiti's imports originate in the U.S., and the states with the most Haitian immigrants also have large export markets in Haiti. In this way, the remittances that immigrants in the U.S send abroad have a positive impact on the U.S. economy and trade."
To read the report and fact check in their entirety see:
• Many Happy Returns: Remittances and Their Impact (IPC Special Report, February 10, 2010)
• Remittances Will be Critical to Haitians: The U.S. Benefits from Remittances As Well (IPC Fact Check, February 10, 2010)
February 10, 2010
Washington D.C. - Today, the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) released a report, Many Happy Returns: Remittances and Their Impact by Kristin Johnson, Ph.D. which analyzes remittances and their effect on the economies of both the U.S. and receiving countries. Remittances - the transfer of money by workers back to home countries - can constitute one of the top financial inflows to many developing countries, in some cases exceeding international aid. Mexico and the Philippines are the top receiving countries from the U.S. and are also large consumers of U.S. goods. In addtion, in the wake of Haiti's overwhelming humanitarian crisis, remittances will assume a central role in providing critical resources to the population. Some critics argue that remittances are a loss to the U.S. economy, however, the latest IPC report shows that remittances are actually used to buy goods from U.S. companies, showing that remittances actually benefit both the sending and receiving countries.
From the report:
"Remittance outflows likely provide long term benefits to the U.S. economy. Remittances boost the consumption of U.S. exports, resulting in expansion of U.S. business and trade competitiveness. Ultimately, sending money abroad expands the consumer base able to purchase U.S. goods, a critical facet in maintaining a strong U.S. economy."
The IPC also released a Fact Check on the key role remittances will play in Haitian recovery efforts and how that will in turn help U.S. exports which notes:
"Over half of Haiti's imports originate in the U.S., and the states with the most Haitian immigrants also have large export markets in Haiti. In this way, the remittances that immigrants in the U.S send abroad have a positive impact on the U.S. economy and trade."
To read the report and fact check in their entirety see:
• Many Happy Returns: Remittances and Their Impact (IPC Special Report, February 10, 2010)
• Remittances Will be Critical to Haitians: The U.S. Benefits from Remittances As Well (IPC Fact Check, February 10, 2010)
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