Operation return to sender

Houston Chronicle:

Immigration officers arrested 2,179 criminal immigrants and fugitives during a nationwide operation touted as a response to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff's call for greater interior enforcement, what some argue is a political maneuver meant to mollify critics.

Among the people arrested in "Operation Return to Sender," many are illegal immigrants with criminal convictions while others are people who defied final deportation orders.

Julie L. Myers, assistant secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said during a news conference in Houston on Wednesday that those arrested represented "the worst of the worst."

"Clearly our communities are much safer with individuals such as these off the streets," Myers said. "We're also sending a clear message that we will no longer allow the interior of the United States to be a safe haven for illegal aliens. There's no question America's welcome does not extend to immigrants who come here to commit crimes or come here illegally."

The operation comes at a time when ICE is under increasing pressure to rid the country of illegal immigrants. The debate about immigration policy reform rages from the halls of Congress to the U.S.-Mexico border, where National Guard troops are being deployed to assist border patrol efforts.

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The operation does signal a new seriousness about enforcing the immigration laws. The administration needs it to restore some credibility on the issue while legislation is pending in Congress. For those who favor enforcement it is an encouraging sign. It is still unlikely to change any minds on the amnesty question.