crime

Jury finds Medford man guilty of murdering former girlfriend

A jury has found butcher Jose Valencia-Gaona, 47, guilty of murder for stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death at her apartment on Table Rock Road in Medford.

The trial that began on Dec. 7 and ended Tuesday was Valencia-Gaona's third trial for the Sept. 1, 2013, murder.

His first trial was declared a mistrial after court officials accidentally gave jurors a list of witnesses who would testify. His second trial also ended in a mistrial after a witness identified Valencia-Gaona to the jury after being instructed not to do so.

This time, the jury found Valencia-Gaona, now 47, guilty of murdering Maria Rodriguez, who was 38 at the time of her death. Jurors also found him guilty of attempted second-degree assault for swinging a knife at a neighbor at the time of the attack on Rodriguez.

Rodriguez's son, 20-year-old Miguel McClellan, said he was glad the case was finally over.

It took a very long time. It shouldn't have stretched out so long," he said, but added that he was grateful to investigators and prosecutors.

"They did a great job. They stuck with it," McClellan said. "I'm very glad they stuck with it so long."

Family members plan to wear memorial T-shirts expressing their love for Rodriguez when Valencia-Gaona is sentenced Thursday afternoon. She is survived by a daughter as well as her son.

Valencia-Gaona, who had no prior criminal history, faces 25 years to life on the murder charge, said Jackson County Deputy District Attorney Virginia Greer.

"Having closure to the case is important, especially to the family," Greer said. "They have been here for every single trial and have endured the mistrials."

The prosecution and defense made closing arguments Tuesday morning. Jurors returned the guilty verdicts in the afternoon.

Valencia-Gaona had worked as a butcher at Fiesta Market & Restaurant on North Riverside Avenue in Medford. The restaurant has a market and butcher shop.

Greer said Valencia-Gaona killed Rodriguez by stabbing her four times in her vital organs.

"He's a butcher," Greer told jurors during closing arguments. "He knows his way around a knife."

Neighbors said they saw a Hispanic man at the scene of the 2013 attack. The man walked quickly away and tossed something. Police later found a knife, according to court testimony.

The knife handle had Valencia-Gaona's DNA on it and the blade had the DNA of the victim, Greer said.

"This is the weapon she was killed with," Greer said.

A bike was found concealed near bushes. It had been blue but was painted black. Valencia-Gaona's fingerprint was preserved in the paint, according to the prosecution.

Before Rodriguez was killed, Valencia-Gaona tried to contact her more than a dozen times via cell phone in a short period of time. He was distraught because they had had a nasty break-up and she was dating again, Greer said.

"He was extremely jealous of Maria," Greer said.

In a Spanish text sent before the attack, Valencia-Gaona told Rodriguez he would see her in hell, Greer said.

A broken, discarded phone that had been used by Valencia-Gaona was found under a bush by a Wendy's drive-thru window near the Table Rock Road apartments where Rodriguez lived, Greer said.

After the murder, Valencia-Gaona went to Fiesta Market & Restaurant and said his mother had died or was ill in Mexico. He asked to receive his last paycheck in cash and then left, Greer said.

Valencia-Gaona also told his brother he had done something bad and needed to leave town, she said.

After receiving a tip, police arrested Valencia-Gaona near railroad tracks running through central Medford. He kept repeating, "I'm sorry" in English, Greer said.

Valencia-Gaona has been lodged in the Jackson County Jail on no bail since Sept. 4, 2013, jail records show.

Defense attorney Christopher Missiaen argued Valencia-Gaona was not confessing with the apology during his arrest, but didn't understand the American criminal justice system and was trying to be compliant and avoid trouble with police.

Missiaen implied the crime scene could have become contaminated as paramedics, police officers, detectives and others responded to the Table Rock Road apartments.

"Some people are wearing protective booties and gloves. Some are not," Missiaen said.

He said DNA from at least three people was found on the knife handle.

"For every piece of evidence, there are other possible explanations," Missiaen said.

He also pointed to conflicting testimony from witnesses, who described the suspect's shirt, pants and hair in different ways.

While Valencia-Gaona has black hair and is in his 40s, one witness reported seeing a man with thick white hair who was in his 50s, Missiaen said.

"Mr. Valencia-Gaona is not guilty and that is the only just result in this case," Missiaen told jurors during closing arguments.

Missiaen said police and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office focused too early on Valencia-Gaona as the suspect and did not check out information on other possible suspects, including a man in a romantic relationship with Rodriguez who visited the crime scene, left and was later contacted by police on Sept. 20.

"He never reached out to police," Missiaen said of the alternate suspect.

Greer said investigators and experts who examined evidence at crime laboratories did their jobs correctly and in an unbiased way.

She said Valencia-Gaona purposefully killed Rodriguez and knew what areas of the body to target with the knife.

"A woman's life was taken in a violent way," Greer said.

NOTE:  Jose Valencia-Gaona - ICE HOLD Read more about Jury finds Medford man guilty of murdering former girlfriend

Two arrested in Medford slaying

Medford police on Wednesday arrested both the suspected shooter in a downtown Medford homicide and the man they believe egged him on.

Shane Anthony "Scarface" Zornes, 25, of Spokane, who is suspected of fatally shooting 27-year-old Isaac Deleon early Sunday morning on Bartlett Street, was arrested by Medford police detectives and other law enforcement in the small town of Rosalia, Wash., near Spokane.

Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said two Medford detectives, Whitman County sheriff's deputies and Spokane police officers surrounded the home of an associate of Zornes Wednesday.

"He came out with his hands up and complied with officers' orders," Budreau said.

Zornes will be extradicted to Jackson County to face a charge of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, he said.

Medford police also added murder charges against Ruben Escareno Marmolejo, 30, of Spokane, Wash., whom they believe told Zornes to shoot Deleon, a Central Point resident.

Marmolejo was arrested on a Washington warrant listing drug charges about 30 minutes after the shooting in the area of Crater Lake Avenue and Bennett Street in Medford. Marmolejo was questioned about possible involvement in the homicide at the time, but was jailed Sunday on the drug charges, police said, and has been held in the Jackson County Jail since then.

A Jackson County grand jury indicted Zornes and Marmolejo on murder charges late Wednesday afternoon. The indictment charged Zornes with murder and criminal conspiracy to commit murder, and Marmolejo on murder, criminal conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation to commit murder.

The grand jury heard from six witnesses Wednesday, including Medford police detectives Justin Ivens and William Ford and three civilian witnesses. Testimony took about 50 minutes, according to a release from prosecutors, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Markiewicz and Deputy District Attorney Zori Cook. The grand jury deliberated for about five minutes before announcing that an indictment had been issued.

Budreau said detectives have yet to interview Zornes, and couldn't say how well Deleon knew Marmolejo and Zornes.

"We don't believe they were strangers," Budreau said.

Budreau said investigators don't believe gang activity was involved.

According to police reports, Deleon was walking near Bartlett and Main streets with friends at 2:15 a.m. Sunday when Zornes, Marmolejo and a third male approached them. After they talked for a short period, Zornes allegedly pulled a handgun out and shot Deleon in the chest and fled east.

The investigation so far has found no criminal culpability for a third person of interest who was with Zornes and Marmolejo. The third person of interest was later interviewed and released.

"Although he fled on foot, that doesn't constitute a criminal charge of murder," Budreau said. "He didn't have any criminal liability."

Police had tracked Zornes to the Motel 6 on Biddle Road in Medford at noon Monday, but just missed him. While they were canvassing the area, a witness claimed that a man matching Zornes' description reportedly tried to sell him two handguns in the parking lot of Witham Truck Stop Restaurant.

Budreau said that with the two suspects in the shooting captured, investigators will be better able to determine the reason behind Deleon's death. He added the cause of the shooting is still under investigation, and likely won't be divulged until Zornes' and Marmolejo's trials.

"As far as all of the stuff leading up to this, that's still under investigation," Budreau said.

NOTE:  MARMOLEJO, RUBEN ESCARENO - ICE HOLD

Umatilla man sentenced to life for triple murder

The tension was thick inside a Benton County courtroom Monday as Francisco Resendez Miranda prepared to speak before being sentenced to life in prison for the execution-style killings of three Pasco people.

The Umatilla man, speaking through an interpreter, was critical of the evidence prosecutors presented at trial and the witnesses who testified against him.

During his brief statement, Resendez Miranda, 24, didn’t admit to the grisly slayings or apologize to the victims’ family members who were seated nearby.

Instead, he told the court the mandatory life sentence without parole for his November convictions on three counts of aggravated first-degree murder have ripped him from his children and family.

“I know that everybody thinks I am a monster,” he said. “But I would have liked for you to know me otherwise.”

Shortly after Resendez Miranda was done speaking, Judge Bruce Spanner imposed the life sentence for the 2014 shooting deaths of David Perez-Saucedo, 22, Victoria Torres, 19, and Abigail Torres-Renteria, 23, who was nearly nine months pregnant.

Resendez Miranda’s attorneys, Shane Silverthorn and John Chambers, plan to appeal.

Spanner had some harsh words for Resendez Miranda before he was led from the courtroom.

“The Legislature has decided that you should never walk freely in our community again. The Legislature has also decided that I should not have any discretion but to impose a sentence of life without the possibility of parole,” Spanner said. “And I have to tell you, I agree with the Legislature on both counts.”

Prosecutor Andy Miller told the Herald it didn’t come as a shock that Resendez Miranda decided not to apologize to the victims’ families because he has continually denied his role in the killings.

“I don’t think there’s anything great a defendant can say, but I was disappointed by what he said,” Miller said. “I think it made it harder on (the victims’ families) to listen to him.”

Representatives from all the families were at the hearing Monday. Miller told the court that it was too emotional for family members to speak, so an official read two letters on their behalf.

The stepmother of Torres-Renteria wrote about the victim’s 8-year-old son recently praying to God to bring his mother back.

“I didn’t have an answer for that. It broke my heart to hear him say that,” wrote Lupe Hernandez in the letter. “The only thing I have to say myself is may God forgive you because I will never forgive you.”

Resendez Miranda was arrested shortly after the victims’ bodies were found Aug. 9 in a rural Benton County cornfield off Nine Canyon Road.

Perez-Saucedo and Resendez Miranda knew each other through work at Wyckoff Farms. Resendez Miranda allegedly sold methamphetamine to Perez-Saucedo, according to testimony.

The victims had traveled to Umatilla, where Resendez Miranda lived, hours before they were killed. Testimony at trial and court documents revealed there was a break-in at Resendez Miranda’s apartment, which was a motive for the murders.

Perez-Saucedo’s sport utility vehicle was spotted leaving the scene of the break-in. Resendez Miranda and a crew of family and friends chased the SUV to a nearby gas station, where a confrontation took place.

The victims were then taken back to Resendez Miranda’s apartment, testimony and police reports confirmed, and they were found dead hours later.

Resendez Miranda reportedly admitted to more than one person that he was involved in the killings, according to testimony. His shoe print was found at the murder scene and blood from one of the victims was found on his clothes. Surveillance video also showed him with the victims at the gas station.

Police are still searching for Resendez Miranda’s father and two brothers in connection with the case. Authorities believe Fidel Miranda-Huitron, Eduardo Miranda-Resendez and Fernando De Jesus Miranda-Resendez fled to Mexico.

Esteban Torres, the grandfather of victim Victoria Torres, wrote in his letter that justice will be served when all the suspects are brought into custody.

“Today there is a heavy burden in my heart because she is gone and part of justice is being done,” the letter said. “I sincerely hope that it won’t be too long before the others will follow (Resendez Miranda).”
  Read more about Umatilla man sentenced to life for triple murder

Drug dealer sentenced to 13 years in prison

A man who was deported to Mexico last year after being convicted of multiple crimes is back in an Oregon prison.

Gustavo Isabel Vega, 23, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted of attempting to commit murder, delivering heroin and attempting to flee from a police officer.

Vega was admitted into Coffee Creek Correctional Facility on Tuesday. A representative from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was not able to answer questions Thursday about the possibility of Vega's being deported again.

Vega, whose last known address is in Boring, was arrested Jan. 31 following an Oregon State Police pursuit that ended near Turner.

At 12:15 a.m. Jan. 31, Oregon State Police Trooper Donald Rummer spotted a white Honda Civic going 85 mph on Interstate 5 near the Santiam Rest Stop on the border of Marion and Linn counties. Rummer pulled over the car, took Tracy Betancourt-Garcia's driver's license and noticed a man lying in the back of the car, according to a sentencing memorandum.

While running records checks in his patrol car, Rummer saw the car speed away. Rummer followed with his lights and siren on.

The Honda raced down I-5 at 120 mph and passed through light traffic. It swerved around a vehicle in the right-hand lane and then sharply cut in front of it to take an exit. Rummer chased the Honda onto country roads.

At one point the car quickly turned around and when his car's headlights illuminated the Honda's driver, Rummer noticed the man who was in the backseat was driving instead of Betancourt-Garcia, according to court records.

When Rummer tried to block the Honda's escape, the driver crashed into the patrol car and drove away. The chase continued back onto I-5 after the Honda drove the wrong way down the off ramp.

As the Honda slowed near the Turner exit, the driver leaned out of the car and fired two pistol shots at the trooper, according to court records.

The Honda took the Turner exit and the chase continued through the city. The Honda ran multiple stop signs without slowing down and reached speeds of 100 mph on rural roads.

Rummer rammed into the Honda to try to force it off the road. It spun into a ditch and stopped.

The driver, who was identified as Vega, got out of the car and reached down to his waistband. Trooper Nick Rhoades fired multiple shots at Vega until he turned away, raised his hands and ran away. None of the gunshots hit Vega, according to court records.

Rummer told Vega he would be shot if he didn't stop. He continued running so Rummer hit him with a stun gun. The second time he was hit with the stun gun, Vega fell in to a ditch...

Inside Vega's pants, law enforcement found more than 21 grams of heroin and a card with a hand-written statement that contained lyrics from a song glorifying drug trafficking, made derogatory comments about police and referenced a drug cartel and El Chapo Guzman, a powerful drug trafficker, according to court records.

Inside the car, detectives found more heroin, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a cell phone, almost $3,000, three .22 caliber rounds and one .22 caliber shell casing.

Records from the cell phones found at the scene, which belonged to Vega and Betancourt-Garcia, led law enforcement officials to believe the couple had conducted numerous drug transactions...

Vega was charged with five felonies and two misdemeanors...

Betancourt-Garcia pleaded guilty to delivering heroin before Judge Dennis Graves Oct. 30. A possession of heroin charge was dismissed. She was sentenced to a year and four months in prison.

In a sentencing memorandum filed mid-November, prosecutors argued that Vega's multiple convictions over the past three years, his probation record, lack of remorse, willingness to commit crimes to avoid being arrested, disregard for the law and history of institutional problems meant he should receive a 15-year prison sentence.

Beginning in 2012 and before his arrest in 2015, Vega was convicted of first-degree burglary, third-degree theft, felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of heroin (from different incidents) and attempt to elude police.

Court records show he was in a gang-related fight in Multnomah County jail in 2013. He was in a fight with an inmate at the Marion County jail in August 2015.

On May 15, 2014, he was deported to Mexico. He was back in the United States and arranging illegal drug deals by Jan. 23, 2015, according to court records.

He was on post-prison supervision when the police chase and shooting occurred. Read more about Drug dealer sentenced to 13 years in prison

Convicted heroin dealer, deported once, busted again across the street from Milwaukie school

A convicted heroin dealer deported earlier is facing additional charges and deportation after he was arrested during a drug deal Monday across the street from a private school in Milwaukie.

The drug deal did not involve anyone from the school...

Rafael Rivera-Rodriguez, 35, of Portland was arrested by members of the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force after an investigation in cooperation with the Milwaukie Police Department. During the bust, police seized about three ounces of heroin, with a street value of $7,500.

Rivera-Rodriguez subsequently was arraigned in Clackamas County Circuit Court on charges of dealing heroin within 1,000 feet of a school, possessing heroin and violating probation from a previous conviction....

Sgt. Nathan Thompson, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman, said Rivera-Rodriguez initially gave investigators a phony name...

Thompson said Rivera-Rodriguez previously has been convicted in Multnomah County of possession and delivery of heroin. He also has been convicted on federal charges of illegally re-entering the country after he was deported. He recently was released from federal federal custody after serving a prison term for illegal re-entry.

Clackamas County authorities have contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which may bring additional federal charges against Rivera-Rodriguez.
  Read more about Convicted heroin dealer, deported once, busted again across the street from Milwaukie school

Voters Favor 'Kate's Law' Sentences for Illegal Immigrant Felons

Senate Democrats recently blocked "Kate's Law," legislation intended to impose mandatory prison terms on illegal immigrants convicted of major felonies who have been deported but have again entered the United States illegally. The law was named after Kate Steinle, the young woman murdered this summer in San Francisco by just such a person.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor a five-year mandatory prison sentence for illegal immigrants convicted of major felonies who return to America after being deported. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 27% oppose such legislation, while 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Seventy-two percent (72%) of Republicans and 53% of voters not affiliated with either major political party favor a law like the proposed Kate's Law. Democrats agree by a much narrower 43% to 36% margin, with 21% undecided.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of voters say the federal government is not aggressive enough in punishing illegal immigrants who commit felony crimes in this country. Just 22% believe the government is aggressive enough in punishing these individuals, but nearly as many (19%) are not sure.

Following Steinle's murder by an illegal immigrant from Mexico who had been deported several times and come back, 62% of voters said the U.S. Justice Department should take legal action against cities that provide sanctuary for illegal immigrants, and 58% said the federal government should cut off funding for those cities. Republicans in Congress included Kate's Law in legislation to cut funding to “sanctuary cities." President Obama threatened to veto the measure, but Senate Democrats stopped it procedurally.

The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on October 28-29, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports...

Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters believe illegal immigration increases the level of serious crime in America. Thirty-three percent (33%) say it has no impact on crime.  More voters than ever feel the United States is not aggressive enough in deporting those who are here illegally....

Blacks and whites favor mandatory sentences more than other minority voters do...

Most voters who favor such mandatory sentencing (77%) think the government is not aggressive enough in punishing illegal immigrants who commit felony crimes...

Voters remain seriously worried about illegal immigration and still think stricter border control is the best way to stop it.

Most voters continue to believe the policies and practices of the federal government encourage, rather than discourage, illegal immigration

Obama’s plan to exempt millions of illegal immigrants from deportation still remains on hold courtesy of the federal courts, and that’s fine with most voters who continue to oppose the plan.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.
  Read more about Voters Favor 'Kate's Law' Sentences for Illegal Immigrant Felons

Murdered by Illegal Aliens 2015: Families Gather in Remembrance

YORBA LINDA, CALIFORNIA — “I’ve been called a traitor” for speaking out against illegal immigration, grieved mother and latina woman Angie Morfin, as she enlightened those gathered at one of many events across the country for the National Remembrance Day for those killed by illegal aliens.

Sabine Durden can be seen in the photo above clutching a small jar containing the ashes of her son Dominic. A twice convicted drunk driver and foreign national illegally present in the United States struck and killed the young 9-1-1 operator on July 12, 2012.

Breitbart News was on scene at the Yorba Linda, California gathering commemorating the National Remembrance Day. Other events occurred in cities across the country including Phoenix, Arizona, Houston, Texas and in New York State.

IMG_2178

Morfin, mother of murdered 13-year-old Ruben Morfin told the crowd, “I’m serving a life sentence.” She shared how her son was shot in the back of the head by an illegal alien. Doctor’s at the hospital told her half of her little boy’s brain was missing. Young Ruben was in the hospital a short time before passing away. Morfin recalled how her son’s murderer fled the country, but after being featured on America’s Most Wanted, was caught in Jalisco, Mexico in 1994 and was finally sentenced.

“I’ve been called a traitor,” Morfin told the crowd gathered. She continued, “I think the best thing that’s happened to us was Donald Trump.”

Brenda Sparks shared the story of her son Eric Zepeda who was killed by an illegal alien. She explained that the individual who hit and killed Zepeda had previously pled guilty to drunk driving three times, but remained in the country and was driving to deliver papers when he hit her son. Zepeda was in a coma for four long weeks before he was taken off of life support. Sparks expressed the shock being told that the offender who was illegally in the country, illegally driving and illegally working delivering papers could only be charged with misdemeanor vehicular homicide without negligence.

Sabine Durden recalled her experience legally immigrating to the United States from Germany to those gathered Sunday. She gladly went through the process and was proud to become a citizen. Years later her only son Dominic, also a legal immigrant, was killed by an illegal alien at just 30 years old. She lovingly told the crowd Dominic’s nickname, “German chocolate.” As a half black young man there was no outcry from activists like those that now herald, “black lives matter.” No big headlines appeared for Durden’s son in the mainstream media.

A statement was read from Kathy Woods, mother of murdered teen Steven Woods. Young Steve was murdered at the beach after a high school football game in San Clemente, California. The statement recalled three cars of gang members, one of which shattered the passenger window of the car the young man was in and plunged a sharpened paint roller into his temple. The statement from Kathy Woods noted that for over three weeks her son lived in the hospital before he died. The media neglected to report that the gang members who attacked him were illegal aliens.

IMG_2199

Many of those families who have lost loved ones to illegal alien crime expressed great thanks for 2016 Presidential candidate Donald Trump for helping spark national conversation over their plight following the death of Kate Steinle in San Francisco last July.

Breitbart News reported from the 2014 National Day of Remembrance event in Temecula California where Moreno, Sparks and Durden spoke alongside the family of murdered young man Jamiel Shaw and Don Rosenberg, father of Drew Rosenberg, killed by an illegal alien.

Mary Ann Mendoza recounted the story of her murdered son Sgt. Brandon Mendoza on the Sunday evening edition of Breitbart News radio with guest host Dan Fluette on SiriusXM 125. Mendoza explained that she lost her son when a three times drunk driver illegal alien, who was on meth, slammed head on into Sgt. Mendoza. She told the listening audience that many elected officials are not listening to the families that have lost family members to illegal alien crime, but that

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) 79% and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) 96% are among the few who have listened and taken action.

Again and again families relayed — if the killer(s) of their loved ones had been deported, as many of them passed through the hands of the justice system, these Americans would be alive today. Read more about Murdered by Illegal Aliens 2015: Families Gather in Remembrance

34 Oregon drug offenders join early release exodus of 6,000 U.S. prisoners

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons began to free the first of about 6,000 drug offenders in its custody on Friday, including dozens convicted in Oregon. All were convicted of serious drug crimes...

Federal judges in Oregon have ordered 34 prisoners cut loose under an amendment to federal sentencing guidelines, although 21 of them are heading into custody of U.S. immigration officials because they are not American citizens, said Thomas H. Edmonds, Oregon's top federal drug prosecutor.

The foreigners are expected to be held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers.

"In total, ICE anticipates taking into custody approximately 1,789 non-citizens on October 30 and November 2," ...  "Seven hundred sixty-three of these individuals have already been issued final orders of removal, while the others are in varying stages of processing and removal proceedings."

...eight of those prisoners are from Oregon and another five are Americans from outside the state. They will be supervised by U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services...

The sentence reductions were approved last year by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, which cut about two years off the sentences of many drug offenders.
  Read more about 34 Oregon drug offenders join early release exodus of 6,000 U.S. prisoners

Frustration filled letters to the editor flood newspapers across the country

Frustrations mount as campaigns across the country unfold.  Voters are speaking out in the media through Letters to the Editor, Guest Commentary pieces, blogs and twitter posts.  Below is a collection of letters collected from papers across the country.

Use the letters to inspire  yourself to send in a Letter to the Editor. 
  Read more about Frustration filled letters to the editor flood newspapers across the country

Thousands of Alien Felons Are Being Released from Prison

WASHINGTON, DC - The Center for Immigration Studies examines sentencing reform legislation now before Congress and finds provisions of concern that could lead to the release of dangerous criminal alien offenders.
 
The Obama administration has announced the pending release of 6,000 felons from federal prisons, of whom an estimated 2,000 are non-citizens. This is the first wave of releases; the total number of serious alien drug offenders released could exceed 13,000.
 
A bill under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee, known as the "Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015," S.2123, proposes to go down the same path and shorten the sentences for repeat cross-border drug traffickers, manufacturers, and distributers caught in the future.
 
Dan Cadman, a Center fellow and author of the analysis, said, "It is beyond incomprehensible that Senate leaders would attempt to fast-track a sentencing reform bill painted with such a broad brush that tens of thousands of aliens will be released from federal penitentiaries with no assurance of prompt deportation putting public safety at great risk."
 
The present bill affects sentences going forward, and also is retroactive in effect, which could make it easier for some alien offenders to challenge their deportation.
 
Equally concerning, it does not ensure that released alien prisoners will be detained while in deportation proceedings following their release. Since 2013, the administration has freed more than 76,000 convicted criminal aliens while in deportation proceedings, resulting in an uncounted toll of new crimes.
 
Several specific provisions will shorten the sentences of aliens who are repeat offenders convicted for trafficking illegal drugs into the United States from abroad, and for those caught serving as drug mules. In addition:
 

  • Courts will be required to seal juvenile offenders' records, including those
  • The bill shortens the sentence for those also charged with illegally possessing or using a firearm to effect the crime (often drug trafficking), from 25 down to 15 years.

"The immigration and public safety priorities of the Republican-led Senate will be apparent if this bill is rushed through like the Trans-Pacific trade and Iran sanctions bills, while Sen Vitter's solid anti-sanctuary bill, S.2146, languishes," said Cadman. "The tragic death of Kate Steinle and so many others seems to have already been forgotten."

Contact: Marguerite Telford
202-466-8185, mrt@cis.org Read more about Thousands of Alien Felons Are Being Released from Prison

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