BOOT 'EM!
Between December '06, when the ICE agent was put in the CM police station and the end of November of this year, ICE reports that they have identified 520 illegal alien criminals who can be deported among the 5,369 people arrested by the CMPD.
The number of illegals identified is thus approximately 9.7% of the total arrestees.
In looking at data from other cities with similar demographics to Costa Mesa, we find that approximately 11% of their arrestees are found to be illegal aliens.
If Costa Mesa were at the 11% figure, we would have found 590 illegal aliens instead of the actual 520. Still, the 9.7% figure is within a reasonable range of 11% so there is probably no reason for concern.
However, if Costa Mesa's figures drop much below where they are now, i.e. if we suddenly show that we're only finding 8% or less of our arrestees to be illegal aliens, then someone on the City Council should ask some questions. If they don't, the CM PRESS will.
And, if the figures do drop to 8% or lower, then what possible explanations could there be for this?
Three immediately come to mind:
1. Some street officers might have a personal don't ask, don't tell policy and not arrest those they think may be illegal.
2. The ICE Agent is not screening all possible illegal aliens.
3. There are fewer illegal aliens in Costa Mesa or the remaining illegal aliens are not breaking additional laws that bring them to the attention of the CMPD.
It'll be interesting to see if the new CMPD organization reported in CM PRESS # 251 will cause any changes in the number of illegal aliens discovered by ICE.
As you may recall, there will be two Area Commanders who will be responsible for all crime/quality of life issues in their areas.
Lt. Paul Dondero will be the Commander of Area 1 which is all of the Westside below Wilson Street and all of the Eastside below 22nd Street.
Lt. Marty Carver will be the Commander of Area 2 which is all the rest of the city above Wilson Street on the West and 22nd Street on the East.
In addition, Lt. Clay Epperson (Return to Reason) will be responsible for, among other things, the Special Enforcement Detail, Gang Detail, School Resource Officers, Park Rangers.
All three lieutenants will thus be involved in duties that will bring them into contact with suspected illegal aliens.
Will we see different trends in the number of illegal aliens discovered and deported under the new organization?
The CM PRESS plans to keep track of these numbers. To this end we have requested that we receive the same reports that the CMPD gives to the City Council and City Staff showing the numbers of illegals arrested each month.
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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
