Reports of state governors transporting illegal immigrant to other states without apparent coordination have been in the news lately and are likely attempts to score political points with their base. This transportation is against the federal law and would be prosecuted for anyone other that politicians engaging in this transportation.
1907. Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(A) Offenses
Domestic Transporting -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) makes it an offense for any person who -- knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law.
Conspiracy/Aiding or Abetting -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(v) expressly makes it an offense to engage in a conspiracy to commit or aid or abet the commission of the foregoing offenses.
Unit of Prosecution -- With regard to offenses defined in subsections 1324(a)(1)(A)(i)-(v), (alien smuggling, domestic transporting, harboring, encouraging/inducing, or conspiracy/aiding or abetting) each alien with respect to whom a violation occurs constitutes a unit of prosecution. Prior to enactment of the IIRIRA, the unit of prosecution for violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2) was each transaction, regardless of the number of aliens involved. However, the unit of prosecution is now based on each alien in respect to whom a violation occurs.
Penalties -- The basic statutory maximum penalty for violating 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(i) and (v)(I) (alien smuggling and conspiracy) is a fine under title 18, imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both. With regard to violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(ii)-(iv) and (v)(ii), domestic transportation, harboring, encouraging/inducing, or aiding/abetting, the basic statutory maximum term of imprisonment is 5 years, unless the offense was committed for commercial advantage or private financial gain, in which case the maximum term of imprisonment is 10 years. In addition, significant enhanced penalties are provided for in violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1) involving serious bodily injury or placing life in jeopardy. Moreover, if the violation results in the death of any person, the defendant may be punished by death or by imprisonment for any term of years. The basic penalty for a violation of subsection 1324(a)(2) is a fine under title 18, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(A). Enhanced penalties are provided for violations involving bringing in criminal aliens, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(i), offenses done for commercial advantage or private financial gain, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii), and violations where the alien is not presented to an immigration officer immediately upon arrival, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii). A mandatory minimum three year term of imprisonment applies to first or second violations of § 1324(a)(2)(B)(i) or (B)(ii). Further enhanced punishment is provided for third or subsequent offenses.
How is the behavior of these elected officials not subject to prosecution?
3 notes I think on the refugees sent to Massachusetts:
1) For the MAGAts, The Cruelty is the Point™ and we are kidding ourselves if we ever think it's not. In early 2019, after Trump shut down the government because Congress refused to fund his harebrained schemes on the border, a woman in Alabama in a town with a federal jail was quoted as saying "He's not hurting who he's supposed to be hurting". See, the jail was closed during the shutdown, so employees were furloughed and inmates relocated, and the jail was the town's only real, consistent employer for pay and benefits. So, does this woman call Trump out for his chicanery? Nope, she says he's not hurting who she want him too. Again, The Cruelty is the Point™
2) I'm not surprised to see the good people of Massachusetts respond how they are, because the people of DC and New York have responded similarly. Grace is accessible to us all but the, again for the MAGAts, The Cruelty is the Point™, so we should not be surprised they're galled at the fact others are actually responding to a crisis with Christian Charity
3) The GOP (again, really GQP) is wholly and utterly uninterested in solving the crisis at the border. We have had opportunity after opportunity to do so and they keep killing any agreements offered. Why? Solving it takes away a key animus for their base because, once more for the record, The Cruelty is the Point™.
The reaction in my feeds from the RW to "own the libs" (that would be me) reminded me of the time I substitute taught a middle school class. A 12 yr old kept asking me if he could sharpen his pencil and I kept saying yes, hardly giving it any thought. After the third time he walked the 15 feet to sharpen his pencil, he was laughing with his friends at how "gullible" I was. Even though I was just 21, I still couldn't fathom the mind of 12 yr olds who thought they were actually fooling me or that I cared. I think that sums up the feeling of many libs have of the RW thinking they are "owning" us. We just can't fathom how people find can laugh at the sad plights of others. At least we know the 12 yr olds will mature...but not these folks.
As is usual, Republicans seek accountability from the border crisis from everyone but themselves. In 2006 the Senate passed an immigration bill that died in House Republican committees. In 2013, a similar bill passed the Senate by an even larger margin which also died in the House. You can guess what happened again in 2018.
I'm not saying the southern border isn't in crisis. It is. I'm saying that if border Republicans really believed it was, they'd do something more substantial than fly legal migrants across the country for Fox News airtime.
Finally, conservatives seem mad that migrants are getting treated reasonably well in Martha's Vineyard. Tucker had some crazy rant that shifted from "libs are all hypocrites" to "migrants gonna wreck our perfect culture." Sorry Tucker, they've been part of the culture from day one.
"The crazy is so widespread that it’s sometimes hard to keep up. And there’s an understandable temptation to become numbed by it all."
It seems with every passing day/week, there is more and more crazy, more cruelty, more decidedly un-Christian motivations to deal with. I don't become numbed, I become more ashamed - of politicians who put their political ambitions above anything else, of our fellow Americans who revel in it and have totally abandoned the principles on which our nation was founded.
Anyone who votes for today's GOP at this perilous point in time must be willing to take ownership of their decision - giving them power will only lead us to a dark and dangerous place.
All the sanctimonious initial reactions to the assault on capitol on Jan 6 from GOP Senators - I haven't heard a single one of them condemn trump's comments inciting violence across our country should he be indicted.
I'm done with their excuses, their motives, along with anyone's excuses and motives for voting for any GOP candidate in the midterms.
No, do not be numbed by any of this - VOTE. VOTE BLUE. VOTE for the kind of democracy you want our children, grandchildren, and future generations to enjoy - because if you don't, for any reason, it won't survive and be there for them to enjoy.
Genuine questions: Is the DA in San Antonio trying to figure out who this "Perla" person who's kidnapping migrants is? Is "Perla" a Texan or a Floridian? How did "Perla" come to be involved in DeSantis's scheme to traffic migrants in Texas to Massachusetts? How much does "Perla" earn for this work?
Also, let's not forget WHY we haven't had a national solution to immigration for the last 20 years. The RW of the GOP has stopped efforts in Congress. And without Congress playing ball, we leave the Executive branch wrestling with the outmoded laws and over using Executive Orders. And now we have the same RW GOP whining that it's ONLY the Dems fault. This is part of a decades long cluster*ck that the GOP created because they won't come to the table and do a deal.
I do find it interesting that MAGAs (they with the Junior High ceiling for humor) just love laughing at the discomfort and awkward situations of others.
Slap-stick gets their funny bones to slip into gafaws. Seeing others suffer makes their stomach and face muscles ache with joy.
Yet, their Big Kahuna (the wannabe insult comic) is incapable of joining in.
Trump quips, throws acerbic asides, and insults his enemies to get his herd to go into stitches.
All he is capable of doing is to shrug, mug, and make insane facial expressions.
Among all the inadequacies that set Trump apart from normal human beings, the most perplexing is his incapacity to actually laugh, even at his own attempt at humor.
What makes me so mad about this stunt transporting immigrants to Martha's Vineyard is that it was done by people who claim to be Christian. When I think of real Christians, people who read the Bible and try to live by what it says, I think of my mother. If she could, she would have taken these people into her own home - not send them far away, after lying to them, for political points. I think this is one of the big reasons why people are leaving the churches - people claiming to be Christians aren't remotely Christian.
So, would someone, anyone, say that the people being sent elsewhere are not illegal immigrants but migrants seeking asylum? Seeking asylum. Still two words. Not that difficult to push back. Not that difficult to repeat, repeat, repeat. Seeking asylum. From repressive governments and crushing conditions in their home countries. Yes, problems exist at the border, though somehow (competence? compassion?), numbers and crushes have actually gone down. Yes, problems exist in relationship to housing those LEGALLY seeking asylum while their cases are adjudicated. Perhaps some funding for hiring legal assistance and judges so the courts could handle the workload would help. Perhaps some expedited work permits while awaiting adjudication would help -- evidently some large agricultural concerns actually need an influx of new workers!! But Republicans aren't about finding solutions to problems that exist. They just want to perform. Such drama queens . . . Meanwhile, "I was a stranger and you took me in" has evidently been removed from the Bible. Except in Massachusetts.
Charlie's old phrase, "performative assholery," doesn't seem strong enough anymore. One would hope for a massive backlash against this DeSantis and Abbott shit. But my head tells me this is likely the opening salvo in the cruelty contest that is the battle for the Republican nomination.
Couldn't disagree more that "there is nothing inherently awful about political stunts." (key word: nothing) Using and debasing other people is awful. Willfully creating unnecessary and harmful divisiveness is awful. Making divide-and-conquer acceptable and appropriate public policy is more awful. Making political considerations superior to both our better instincts and our basic education to be fundamentally decent human beings is still more awful. Most awful is making the end so important that the means no longer matter as long as you win. All are done in the name of promoting personal agendas and tribalism over meaningful attempts to find common ground, share the road, and get along with others who share our hopes, dreams, aspirations, and general human circumstances. That's what political stunts do. And it's quite awful.
It's hard for me to read an articulate, intelligent person like Charlie so unashamedly trying to have it both ways, disavowing human cruelty in political gamesmanship while condoning the conduct that gives birth to it. If you don't like the outcome, don't encourage the behavior. Haven't we all learned this fundamental lesson by now after each passing day that the MAGA Deplorables have thrived and prospered on people's unwillingness to keep them in check? Given a choice, which we do in fact have, it's better to become part of the solution than to turn a blind eye to the problem.
We have a labor shortage in this country, particularly of entry level "unskilled" jobs. Vet these people throughly. And if they pass a vigorous background check, we'll take these folks here in the Northeast. We'll get them to work and give their children a path to citizenship. If Florida and Texas want to continue to bow to their MAGA constituents, betray our ideals as a nation of immigrants looking for freedom in the shining city on the hill, refuse willing workers when there is a national labor shortage, and sell their souls in the process, that is their business I suppose.
Charlie, perhaps you can answer a question that's been bothering me here (and I agree that there is a problem/crisis at the border). Is it the case that the federal government provides resources to border states to support efforts to control illegal immigration -- resources beyond the border patrol and immigration courts? If so, can the Biden administration stop sending that support to Texas, Florida, and Arizona and redirect it to the localities that have received immigrants under this cruel stunt?
None of the right wing radicals who enjoy, promote and enact these stunts believe the migrants are people. They believe the migrants are “things”- worthless inanimate objects, props and pawns to be used for crass, sadistic political purposes.
Cruelty is the point. And these same people proudly and publicly call themselves Christian’s.
Do you recall when the Putin mini-me running Belarus propelled Syrian war refugees at the Polish border, just before the Ukraine war? This is a page from that same playbook, as was the ginned-up 2018 "migrant invasion."
Reports of state governors transporting illegal immigrant to other states without apparent coordination have been in the news lately and are likely attempts to score political points with their base. This transportation is against the federal law and would be prosecuted for anyone other that politicians engaging in this transportation.
1907. Title 8, U.S.C. 1324(A) Offenses
Domestic Transporting -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii) makes it an offense for any person who -- knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law.
Conspiracy/Aiding or Abetting -- Subsection 1324(a)(1)(A)(v) expressly makes it an offense to engage in a conspiracy to commit or aid or abet the commission of the foregoing offenses.
Unit of Prosecution -- With regard to offenses defined in subsections 1324(a)(1)(A)(i)-(v), (alien smuggling, domestic transporting, harboring, encouraging/inducing, or conspiracy/aiding or abetting) each alien with respect to whom a violation occurs constitutes a unit of prosecution. Prior to enactment of the IIRIRA, the unit of prosecution for violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2) was each transaction, regardless of the number of aliens involved. However, the unit of prosecution is now based on each alien in respect to whom a violation occurs.
Penalties -- The basic statutory maximum penalty for violating 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(i) and (v)(I) (alien smuggling and conspiracy) is a fine under title 18, imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both. With regard to violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(ii)-(iv) and (v)(ii), domestic transportation, harboring, encouraging/inducing, or aiding/abetting, the basic statutory maximum term of imprisonment is 5 years, unless the offense was committed for commercial advantage or private financial gain, in which case the maximum term of imprisonment is 10 years. In addition, significant enhanced penalties are provided for in violations of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1) involving serious bodily injury or placing life in jeopardy. Moreover, if the violation results in the death of any person, the defendant may be punished by death or by imprisonment for any term of years. The basic penalty for a violation of subsection 1324(a)(2) is a fine under title 18, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(A). Enhanced penalties are provided for violations involving bringing in criminal aliens, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(i), offenses done for commercial advantage or private financial gain, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii), and violations where the alien is not presented to an immigration officer immediately upon arrival, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii). A mandatory minimum three year term of imprisonment applies to first or second violations of § 1324(a)(2)(B)(i) or (B)(ii). Further enhanced punishment is provided for third or subsequent offenses.
How is the behavior of these elected officials not subject to prosecution?
3 notes I think on the refugees sent to Massachusetts:
1) For the MAGAts, The Cruelty is the Point™ and we are kidding ourselves if we ever think it's not. In early 2019, after Trump shut down the government because Congress refused to fund his harebrained schemes on the border, a woman in Alabama in a town with a federal jail was quoted as saying "He's not hurting who he's supposed to be hurting". See, the jail was closed during the shutdown, so employees were furloughed and inmates relocated, and the jail was the town's only real, consistent employer for pay and benefits. So, does this woman call Trump out for his chicanery? Nope, she says he's not hurting who she want him too. Again, The Cruelty is the Point™
2) I'm not surprised to see the good people of Massachusetts respond how they are, because the people of DC and New York have responded similarly. Grace is accessible to us all but the, again for the MAGAts, The Cruelty is the Point™, so we should not be surprised they're galled at the fact others are actually responding to a crisis with Christian Charity
3) The GOP (again, really GQP) is wholly and utterly uninterested in solving the crisis at the border. We have had opportunity after opportunity to do so and they keep killing any agreements offered. Why? Solving it takes away a key animus for their base because, once more for the record, The Cruelty is the Point™.
The reaction in my feeds from the RW to "own the libs" (that would be me) reminded me of the time I substitute taught a middle school class. A 12 yr old kept asking me if he could sharpen his pencil and I kept saying yes, hardly giving it any thought. After the third time he walked the 15 feet to sharpen his pencil, he was laughing with his friends at how "gullible" I was. Even though I was just 21, I still couldn't fathom the mind of 12 yr olds who thought they were actually fooling me or that I cared. I think that sums up the feeling of many libs have of the RW thinking they are "owning" us. We just can't fathom how people find can laugh at the sad plights of others. At least we know the 12 yr olds will mature...but not these folks.
As is usual, Republicans seek accountability from the border crisis from everyone but themselves. In 2006 the Senate passed an immigration bill that died in House Republican committees. In 2013, a similar bill passed the Senate by an even larger margin which also died in the House. You can guess what happened again in 2018.
I'm not saying the southern border isn't in crisis. It is. I'm saying that if border Republicans really believed it was, they'd do something more substantial than fly legal migrants across the country for Fox News airtime.
Finally, conservatives seem mad that migrants are getting treated reasonably well in Martha's Vineyard. Tucker had some crazy rant that shifted from "libs are all hypocrites" to "migrants gonna wreck our perfect culture." Sorry Tucker, they've been part of the culture from day one.
"The crazy is so widespread that it’s sometimes hard to keep up. And there’s an understandable temptation to become numbed by it all."
It seems with every passing day/week, there is more and more crazy, more cruelty, more decidedly un-Christian motivations to deal with. I don't become numbed, I become more ashamed - of politicians who put their political ambitions above anything else, of our fellow Americans who revel in it and have totally abandoned the principles on which our nation was founded.
Anyone who votes for today's GOP at this perilous point in time must be willing to take ownership of their decision - giving them power will only lead us to a dark and dangerous place.
All the sanctimonious initial reactions to the assault on capitol on Jan 6 from GOP Senators - I haven't heard a single one of them condemn trump's comments inciting violence across our country should he be indicted.
I'm done with their excuses, their motives, along with anyone's excuses and motives for voting for any GOP candidate in the midterms.
No, do not be numbed by any of this - VOTE. VOTE BLUE. VOTE for the kind of democracy you want our children, grandchildren, and future generations to enjoy - because if you don't, for any reason, it won't survive and be there for them to enjoy.
Genuine questions: Is the DA in San Antonio trying to figure out who this "Perla" person who's kidnapping migrants is? Is "Perla" a Texan or a Floridian? How did "Perla" come to be involved in DeSantis's scheme to traffic migrants in Texas to Massachusetts? How much does "Perla" earn for this work?
Also, let's not forget WHY we haven't had a national solution to immigration for the last 20 years. The RW of the GOP has stopped efforts in Congress. And without Congress playing ball, we leave the Executive branch wrestling with the outmoded laws and over using Executive Orders. And now we have the same RW GOP whining that it's ONLY the Dems fault. This is part of a decades long cluster*ck that the GOP created because they won't come to the table and do a deal.
RE: Laughing Life Away
I do find it interesting that MAGAs (they with the Junior High ceiling for humor) just love laughing at the discomfort and awkward situations of others.
Slap-stick gets their funny bones to slip into gafaws. Seeing others suffer makes their stomach and face muscles ache with joy.
Yet, their Big Kahuna (the wannabe insult comic) is incapable of joining in.
Trump quips, throws acerbic asides, and insults his enemies to get his herd to go into stitches.
All he is capable of doing is to shrug, mug, and make insane facial expressions.
Among all the inadequacies that set Trump apart from normal human beings, the most perplexing is his incapacity to actually laugh, even at his own attempt at humor.
What makes me so mad about this stunt transporting immigrants to Martha's Vineyard is that it was done by people who claim to be Christian. When I think of real Christians, people who read the Bible and try to live by what it says, I think of my mother. If she could, she would have taken these people into her own home - not send them far away, after lying to them, for political points. I think this is one of the big reasons why people are leaving the churches - people claiming to be Christians aren't remotely Christian.
So, would someone, anyone, say that the people being sent elsewhere are not illegal immigrants but migrants seeking asylum? Seeking asylum. Still two words. Not that difficult to push back. Not that difficult to repeat, repeat, repeat. Seeking asylum. From repressive governments and crushing conditions in their home countries. Yes, problems exist at the border, though somehow (competence? compassion?), numbers and crushes have actually gone down. Yes, problems exist in relationship to housing those LEGALLY seeking asylum while their cases are adjudicated. Perhaps some funding for hiring legal assistance and judges so the courts could handle the workload would help. Perhaps some expedited work permits while awaiting adjudication would help -- evidently some large agricultural concerns actually need an influx of new workers!! But Republicans aren't about finding solutions to problems that exist. They just want to perform. Such drama queens . . . Meanwhile, "I was a stranger and you took me in" has evidently been removed from the Bible. Except in Massachusetts.
Charlie's old phrase, "performative assholery," doesn't seem strong enough anymore. One would hope for a massive backlash against this DeSantis and Abbott shit. But my head tells me this is likely the opening salvo in the cruelty contest that is the battle for the Republican nomination.
Couldn't disagree more that "there is nothing inherently awful about political stunts." (key word: nothing) Using and debasing other people is awful. Willfully creating unnecessary and harmful divisiveness is awful. Making divide-and-conquer acceptable and appropriate public policy is more awful. Making political considerations superior to both our better instincts and our basic education to be fundamentally decent human beings is still more awful. Most awful is making the end so important that the means no longer matter as long as you win. All are done in the name of promoting personal agendas and tribalism over meaningful attempts to find common ground, share the road, and get along with others who share our hopes, dreams, aspirations, and general human circumstances. That's what political stunts do. And it's quite awful.
It's hard for me to read an articulate, intelligent person like Charlie so unashamedly trying to have it both ways, disavowing human cruelty in political gamesmanship while condoning the conduct that gives birth to it. If you don't like the outcome, don't encourage the behavior. Haven't we all learned this fundamental lesson by now after each passing day that the MAGA Deplorables have thrived and prospered on people's unwillingness to keep them in check? Given a choice, which we do in fact have, it's better to become part of the solution than to turn a blind eye to the problem.
We have a labor shortage in this country, particularly of entry level "unskilled" jobs. Vet these people throughly. And if they pass a vigorous background check, we'll take these folks here in the Northeast. We'll get them to work and give their children a path to citizenship. If Florida and Texas want to continue to bow to their MAGA constituents, betray our ideals as a nation of immigrants looking for freedom in the shining city on the hill, refuse willing workers when there is a national labor shortage, and sell their souls in the process, that is their business I suppose.
Charlie, perhaps you can answer a question that's been bothering me here (and I agree that there is a problem/crisis at the border). Is it the case that the federal government provides resources to border states to support efforts to control illegal immigration -- resources beyond the border patrol and immigration courts? If so, can the Biden administration stop sending that support to Texas, Florida, and Arizona and redirect it to the localities that have received immigrants under this cruel stunt?
None of the right wing radicals who enjoy, promote and enact these stunts believe the migrants are people. They believe the migrants are “things”- worthless inanimate objects, props and pawns to be used for crass, sadistic political purposes.
Cruelty is the point. And these same people proudly and publicly call themselves Christian’s.
Do you recall when the Putin mini-me running Belarus propelled Syrian war refugees at the Polish border, just before the Ukraine war? This is a page from that same playbook, as was the ginned-up 2018 "migrant invasion."