U.S. Att'y: Border-Crossing Terrorists May Go Free

Newsmax.com, November 26, 2004

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/11/26/105614.shtml

Regulations implemented this month along America's busiest southern border crossing would force Border Patrol agents to free captured illegal aliens even if they're known to be guilty of terrorist activity.

Border Patrol sources tell San Diego's TV News 10 that under the new guidelines, the criminal history of smugglers or illegal immigrants will be considered only if they've been convicted of murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, rape or multiple felonies in the past five years.

"If they have committed a crime longer than seven years ago, it will not be considered – that includes crimes like child pornography, weapons crimes and even terrorism," reports the San Diego station.

U.S. Attorney Carol Lamb mandated the new guidelines... border agents working the crossing between San Diego and Tijuana say the new rules went into effect Nov. 1.

Contacted by News 10, Lamb defended the policy, saying her office will handle the prosecutions on a case-by-case basis.

Three weeks after Lamb's policy was made public, Time magazine reported:

"A key al-Qaeda operative seized in Pakistan recently offered an alarming account of the group's potential plans to target the U.S. with weapons of mass destruction. ...

... Border Patrol agents told News 10 that in areas to the east there are many holes in border security. San Diego residents, who fear terrorists could easily take advantage of the security gaps, say that when patrols are on shift changes, illegals by the dozens cross in those lightly secured areas.

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