I am confused about this issue. On one hand I agree that felons should be sent back to their own counrty but then on the other??? This is the father of my 2 nephews...

Tancredo Questions Why Iraqi Felon Let Loose in Colorado
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) sent a letter to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff today asking why an Iraqi national who had been convicted of an aggravated felony and who had been arrested nearly 70 times in Colorado was not deported but instead was released into the public.
ICE sources say that the man, Gavan Alkadi of Longmont, was not deported because his country of origin – Iraq – refused to issue him travel documents to repatriate. ICE released Alkadi even though in the past the agency has issued its own travel papers and simply put the individual on an airplane to his destination.
The letter is reprinted below:
Dear Secretary Chertoff,
I was shocked to learn recently that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Colorado released a dangerous Iraqi national into the community despite his extensive criminal record. In addition, his case is apparently only the tip of an incredible iceberg of thousands of criminal aliens we are unable to deport because the country of origin will not accept them. Why is this happening long after the President announced the end of “catch and release”?
This man, Gavan Alkadi, 45, has been arrested nearly 70 times in Colorado alone. His record includes numerous DUI convictions as well as other charges ranging from drug possession to second degree murder. Alkadi was convicted in 2002 on an assault charge—classified by ICE as an aggravated felony. Consequently, his LPR status was suspended and deportation proceedings were begun against him. The deportation process unfortunately hit a roadblock when the Iraqi government refused to issue travel documents for him. An immigration judge subsequently released this man into the community while his deportation is stalled waiting for the Iraqi government’s travel documents.
What is the current status of this particular case and when do you expect the Iraqi government to issue travel documents for Mr. Alkadi? Why did ICE release this clearly dangerous individual rather than detain him until deportation proceedings have been completed? If there are federal court rulings dictating an alien’s release in these circumstances, what are your agency and the Justice Department doing to appeal and change those rulings? How widespread is this problem with Iraqi nationals? How many similar cases have there been since the year 2001 in which Iraqi nationals have been released because of the lack of travel documents? Have you conferred with the State Department about getting better cooperation from the Iraqi Embassy? What is the total number of aliens released in each year from 2001 to 2005 because of non-cooperation by a government in not issuing travel documents?
I have been told that in past years, in such cases the INS would issue its own travel papers and simply put the individual on an airplane to that destination. What prevents our government from doing this – simply repatriating the undesirable alien to his own country of origin regardless of whether or not the receiving government agrees to accept him? I am also confused about the release of this man in the wake of President Bush's recent pledge to end the failed policy of “catch and release.” How many OTM’s have been released in FY 2006 due to foreign governments’ refusal to accept their return?
Mr. Secretary, I do not believe I am alone in viewing the apparent handling of cases like Mr. Alkadi's as completely unacceptable. I hope the agency will act swiftly to revoke whatever kind of legal parole has been extended to Alkadi before he commits another crime.
I also urge you to engage in direct discussions with Secretary Rice to design alternative strategies for gaining the cooperation of recalcitrant foreign governments. For example, if we simply suspended granting new travel visas to the citizens of the offending government for 30 or 60 days, it would probably get their attention.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tom Tancredo
Member of Congress

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Interesting topic :-)

My opinion is that a government should have the option to deport immigrants to the country of origin. There should be stricter rules when it concerns people who have been living in the "guest country" for a longer period of time. So the longer you've been living abroad, the more serious a crime has to be before you can deport someone.

What happens when you have an immigrant with a serious criminal record or an illegal immigrant and you want to deport him or her? I think a government should be allowed to imprison such a person, but only for as long as there's still the possibility that this person will be deported. So when the INS is still talking to the embassy/consulate to get travel documents or when they're in the process of investigating the person's identity and country of origin, I think the government should be able to keep someone detained. If you release them, then they will disappear and become illegal immigrants (again).

In this particular case there was no possibility of deportation, because of lack of travel documents. You can't detain him forever and thus there's no other option than to inform him that he has to leave the country on his own and then you release him. As for the comment of the government "fixing their own travel documents" - that just makes me smile :-) It doesn't work like that...you can't dump people in a country when the government of that country doesn't accept them as citizens of that country. If that was the case, the whole world could "fabricate" documents and dump unwanted citizens in America stating they are Americans because this person said so :-)

If you can't deport them, you have to deal with them. And in this case you probably have to deal with him over and over again. Granted, not an ideal situation, but what can you do?

I think having the foreign affair minister talking about these reluctant governments would be a good idea, but I don't think many countries will respond well to blackmail :-) Compromise would be a more acceptable form of negotiating...

Cindy,

I know a lot about deportation - I will email you about it when I get home - I am on a quick break right now and snuck online to check on you guys

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Thanks Skye I would appreciate that. My problem with this is that it is my nephew’s father. He has been in this country since 1978. He was brought here as a political refugee. His family was quite high up in the military and they were killed. The remainder of his family was sent here. Even though he has not been a law-abiding citizen he does have children here? What about them, what do they do? He has a granddaughter also. I feel if he has been convicted of crimes, which he has and has served his time. Then what can we do?? His country doesn’t want him and his children want him here no matter what kind of person he is?? He has spent his time in jail for his convictions. I just don’t know what to think? If he is sent back its signing a death warrant for him.

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Silverparrot

http://www.myspace.com/Silverparrot

Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you.
Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by.

~~"My tears do not compromise my strength"...~~

Was I having a blonde moment? I thought it was the start of an argument/conversation, not asking for advice? Did I misinterpret (sp) that? (Because my response looks rather silly now...)

Zosja...your response was fine...I wanted info and feedback. It was a question and you answered. Thanks.

__________________
Silverparrot

http://www.myspace.com/Silverparrot

Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you.
Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by.

~~"My tears do not compromise my strength"...~~

Deportation....my thoughts. Reguardless of the time frame, i believe once you become part of another Country you should be treated like the rest of it's citizens and need to abide by there Laws etc.
To throw you away with the trash,(sending you back to your Country of origin) so to speak, because you have not lived up to "expectations" to me is just wrong. Reguardless of the crime/s.
I am sure many can argue so many points on this one, but when do you truly belong to the "New Country" you reside in?

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When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.

We deport from prison frequently (we being aust) and sometimes it is heart breaking. We had a recent case of a 40 yr old italian born guy who's family migrated here when he was 2. He had numerous 'soft' convictions and I spose they'd just had enough of him and deported him to Italy where he has no family left, cant speak the language very well and doesnt know the place.

Before he left, he was in my office crying like a baby & there was absolutely nothing I or anyone could do Was very sad.

dreamer

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I think you're allowed to stay in my country when you've been living here for over 20 years. If you've been living here for 15-20 years, then they can deport you once you've received a sentence of 96 months or more (8 years). And we don't really have high sentences like in the States, so to get 8 years...that's a pretty serious crime. It's like I said, the longer you live here, the harder it will be to deport you.