"STREAMLINING" IMMIGRANTS THROUGH THE FEDERAL SYSTEM

Operation Streamline: A "Zero Tolerance" Policy

 What is it?

Operation Streamline was first proposed and put into place during the Bush Administration in 2005 in Del Rio, Texas. The Operation has since spread along much of the Southern border including, Yuma, Arizona, Del Rio, Laredo, and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.This program seeks to bring Federal criminal charges upon those crossing the border illegally, regardless of circumstance, origin, or gender, every individual gets processed in the same manner. For an immigrant's first entry into the country, he or she is charged for a misdemeanor, which is punishable for up to eight months. A second entry on the other hand, calls for felony prosecution which is punishable for up to twenty years. These cases are typically resolved within two days, sometimes even less. The program speeds up due process for undocumented immigrants, giving these individuals inadequate representation in the legal system, and denying them of all other options.

 Consequences?

During the Bush Administration alone, federal criminal prosecutions of immigrants more than quadrupled, drawing more attention from law enforcement, courts, judges, and prosecutors. This trend continued under our current federal government, the Obama Administration. In April, 2009 criminal immigration cases outnumbered white collar crime, civil rights crime, environmental crime, drug related crime, and all other criminal crimes combined. The trend has continued on, where in 2012, Federal criminal prosecution of immigrants accounted for more than fifty-three percent of federal criminal prosecutions throughout the nation. Operation Streamline has also inspired other programs such as the Arizona Denial Prosecution Initiative in Tucson, AZ. This program enures immigrants can face up to 180 days in jail, a formal removal, and permanent denial of legal reentry.

Concerns?

There are both financial and societal consequences being seen from Operation Streamline. The financial costs alone include costs of incarceration, costs for operating the courts, and paying employees of the courts, and attorney fees. Attention is also being taken away from crimes that may be a more pressing matter, such as drug trafficking, violent crimes, or crimes that threaten the safety of the public.

The Washington Post

Unproven Benefits Outweighed by Cost to Taxpayers

Operation Streamline Fact Sheet