An executive order by President Barack Obama that would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants convicted of traffic offenses would mean that thousands of people who have DUIs or faced vehicular homicide charges would be permitted to say in the country, according to a new report.
The analysis by the
Center for Immigration Studies found that since 2004, of the 258,689 illegal immigrants deported whose worst crime was traffic-related, 57 percent had been convicted of drunk or drugged driving.
The organization noted that a number of other offenses come under the umbrella of traffic crimes including vehicular homicide and manslaughter, hit-and-run, carjacking, vehicle theft, joyriding, improper lane changes, and driving without a license or insurance. Some of the offenses involve fatalities.
"An amnesty to benefit alien traffic offenders undermines the enforcement of immigration law and circumvents Congress with the sole goal of protecting illegal aliens from deportation. To suggest those convicted of traffic crimes, many of which involved fatalities, are not a threat to public safety or are not worthy of law enforcement resources is a slap in the face to family members who have lost loved ones to reckless illegal alien drivers," Dan Cadman, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies and co-author of the report, said in a statement.
In addition, 55 percent of the traffic offenders deported by the government in the last 10 years had been deported at least once before. In 2013, the figure was higher at 70 percent.
"Drunk driving is one of the most common violent crimes committed in America, and according to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), one-third of the problem is repeat offenders. It is perfectly appropriate for ICE agents to remove those who not only are here illegally, but also have endangered the public by driving impaired," said Jessica Vaughan, a co-author of the report.
"The Obama administration should not seek political gain by protecting illegal aliens who are a menace on our roadways," she added.
The report also found that the majority of all traffic-related crimes during the time period studied were committed by adult males who illegally crossed the border.
A
recent poll found that the public is strongly opposed to the president's plans to give legal rights to undocumented immigrants. When asked specifically about an executive order to "slow deportation of undocumented immigrants by providing them with legal protection and work permits," 63 percent of all those polled say they oppose Obama’s issuing such an order.
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