To: Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, Eric Holder, United States Attorney General, and President Donald Trump
"Shut Down" Funding For Operation Streamline in Arizona
At a time when the government cannot see eye-to-eye and basic essential services are at risk of being defunded, Americans cannot afford to spend our tax dollars on a controversial immigration enforcement program for the benefit of private, for-profit corporations.
Operation Streamline diverts crucial law enforcement resources away from fighting violent crime along the border, fails to effectively reduce undocumented immigration, needlessly increases federal immigration caseloads, and in many cases may violate the U.S. Constitution.
We ask that the Department of Homeland Security cease this questionable and costly program and focus on immigration policies that keep our border safe, make efficient use of taxpayer funding, and preserve the rights and dignity of those who are apprehended.
Operation Streamline diverts crucial law enforcement resources away from fighting violent crime along the border, fails to effectively reduce undocumented immigration, needlessly increases federal immigration caseloads, and in many cases may violate the U.S. Constitution.
We ask that the Department of Homeland Security cease this questionable and costly program and focus on immigration policies that keep our border safe, make efficient use of taxpayer funding, and preserve the rights and dignity of those who are apprehended.
Why is this important?
Operation Streamline is a controversial DHS immigration enforcement policy, heavily lobbied for by Corrections Corporation of America and other private, for profit prison corporations, that diverts crucial law enforcement resources away from fighting violent crime along the border, fails to effectively reduce undocumented immigration, and in many cases violates the U.S. Constitution.
Under normal circumstances, non criminal migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S. border are immediately deported and face a five year ban from reentering the country, with criminal penalties occurring if they are caught crossing a second time.
However, under Operation Streamline, such detainees face mandatory criminal prosecution, with penalties ranging from a few days to several months in private, for profit, corporate run prisons, at taxpayer expense.
In Arizona, those convicted are housed at Florence Correctional Center, a Corrections Corporation of America facility. CCA has heavily lobbied for enforcement of Operation Streamline and similar manadatory imprisonment immigration laws, and has a particularly dubius reputation in our state, helping to write the controversial "Show Me Your Papers" law SB1070 and contributing millions to the campaign coffers of Governer Jan Brewer and other Arizona lawmakers. CCA has already earned billions of dollars in taxpayer funds as a result of this progam and stands to reap billions more.
Meanwhile, the numbers show that Operation Streamline DOES NOT effectively reduce undocumented immigration, and the "fast tracking" of criminal convictions in these cases may very often violate the Constitutional due process rights of detainees.
The program has led to skyrocketing federal immigration caseloads in the Arizona and forces border patrol agents to spend significant time and resources apprehending non-violent migrants when they should be keeping our border safe from violent criminals and drug trafficking.
At a time when the government is in shut down mode, and funds for essential services are being frozen or cut, we cannot afford to spend taxpayer dollars on a program that criminalizes not violent offenders, makes our borders LESS safe and increases the costs of illegal immigration.
This is why I created a petition to Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and 3 others titled ""Shut Down" Funding For Operation Streamline in Arizona".
Tell DHS Secretary Jan Brewer and the U.S. Department of Justice to shut down Operation Streamline and focus on policies that benefit border communities instead of corporate coffers.
For more details, check out the following articles:
http://www.cipamericas.org/archives/9022
http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6807.htm
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2010-10-21/news/grinding-justice-operation-streamline-costs-millions-tramples-the-constitution-treats-migrants-like-cattle-and-doesn-t-work/full/.
Under normal circumstances, non criminal migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S. border are immediately deported and face a five year ban from reentering the country, with criminal penalties occurring if they are caught crossing a second time.
However, under Operation Streamline, such detainees face mandatory criminal prosecution, with penalties ranging from a few days to several months in private, for profit, corporate run prisons, at taxpayer expense.
In Arizona, those convicted are housed at Florence Correctional Center, a Corrections Corporation of America facility. CCA has heavily lobbied for enforcement of Operation Streamline and similar manadatory imprisonment immigration laws, and has a particularly dubius reputation in our state, helping to write the controversial "Show Me Your Papers" law SB1070 and contributing millions to the campaign coffers of Governer Jan Brewer and other Arizona lawmakers. CCA has already earned billions of dollars in taxpayer funds as a result of this progam and stands to reap billions more.
Meanwhile, the numbers show that Operation Streamline DOES NOT effectively reduce undocumented immigration, and the "fast tracking" of criminal convictions in these cases may very often violate the Constitutional due process rights of detainees.
The program has led to skyrocketing federal immigration caseloads in the Arizona and forces border patrol agents to spend significant time and resources apprehending non-violent migrants when they should be keeping our border safe from violent criminals and drug trafficking.
At a time when the government is in shut down mode, and funds for essential services are being frozen or cut, we cannot afford to spend taxpayer dollars on a program that criminalizes not violent offenders, makes our borders LESS safe and increases the costs of illegal immigration.
This is why I created a petition to Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and 3 others titled ""Shut Down" Funding For Operation Streamline in Arizona".
Tell DHS Secretary Jan Brewer and the U.S. Department of Justice to shut down Operation Streamline and focus on policies that benefit border communities instead of corporate coffers.
For more details, check out the following articles:
http://www.cipamericas.org/archives/9022
http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6807.htm
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2010-10-21/news/grinding-justice-operation-streamline-costs-millions-tramples-the-constitution-treats-migrants-like-cattle-and-doesn-t-work/full/.