Expansion of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Criminal Alien Program in the War on Terror

摘要

The continued presence of criminal aliens, non-citizens present in the United States either legally or illegally, poses a significant threat to the security of this Nation. While criminal aliens are present at all levels of our criminal justice system, ICE's current Criminal Alien Program only addresses criminal aliens encountered at the state and federal level. This thesis examines how ICE's Criminal Alien Program can be expanded at the local and county level, the possible effects this expansion will have upon ICE in detaining and removing criminal aliens and whether this removal of criminal aliens is an effective and efficient weapon in a terrorist prevention strategy. Individuals from the Joint Terrorism Task Force and NYC Police Department's Shield were interviewed concerning whether the efficient removal of criminal aliens is an effective tool in the war on terror. In researching this thesis of expansion of ICE's Criminal Alien Program and the issues that arise from such expansion, structured formal interviews were conducted of a representative mix of ICE field officials varying in size and physical location in the United States. The creation of a megacommunity amongst the stakeholders involved in ICE's Criminal Alien Program should be included in U.S. counterterrorism strategy.