miscellany

In a follow-up to my post on the mass arrests of illegal aliens and illegal employers, ALIPAC's (Americans for Legal Immigration PAC) site has an article from the Charlotte Observer stating that many of those arrested have already been released and told to appear before immigration authorities in another state.

From an ALIPAC email:

Over 95% of the illegal aliens they are catching are being released with a notice to appear in court. This is the same useless Catch and Release technique they are using at the border. 90% of the illegals caught and given orders to appear never show up!

From the Charlotte Observer:

Authorities also arrested 1,187 IFCO employees in raids at 40 plants in 26 states.

Officials said the 44 arrested at the company's west Charlotte site are immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala. Most were released and told to appear before immigration authorities in Atlanta.

All were in the U.S. illegally, according to agent Jeff Jordan of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Charlotte office. Two of the 44 had prior deportation orders. They are in custody and will be deported, he said.

...

Nearly half the Carolinas' estimated 390,000 illegal immigrants hold jobs. But fines have been rare. Across the country, immigration officials filed only three "notices of intent" to fine employers in 2004.