Immigration Law as Anti-Terrorism Tool

WaPo reports Soul Khalil woke with a start. Her split-level home in Burke was shuddering, and the oppressive hum of a helicopter filled the room. Then she heard the pounding on the front door. "Police!" the voices yelled. She shook her husband. "Hassan! You hear that banging?" she later recalled saying. Her husband, in his shorts, stumbled into the hallway. At the end of it was a masked agent, his gun drawn. "Get down!" he yelled, according to the husband's recollection. The Lebanese immigrant dropped onto his stomach, and the officers cuffed his hands behind his back. The charge: lying on his immigration documents.... Khalil's arrest is part of a broad anti-terrorism effort being waged with a seemingly innocuous weapon: immigration law.

Al Capone was eventually convicted of tax evasion. The important thing is that they finally were able to convict him. And if immagration law violations are easier to prove, and don't require making public information that would compromise National Security, I say go ahead. At least get them out of the country. Now while you are at it, how about defending our borders?

In the past two years, officials have filed immigration charges against more than 500 people who have come under scrutiny in national security investigations, according to previously undisclosed government figures. Some are ultimately found to have no terrorism ties, officials acknowledge. Whereas terrorism charges can be difficult to prosecute, Homeland Security officials say immigration laws can provide a quick, easy way to detain people who could be planning attacks. Authorities have also used routine charges such as overstaying a visa to deport suspected supporters of terrorist groups.

Mark Krikorian blogged The Post today explores how immigration violations are being used as an anti-terrorism tool. Obviously, the usual suspects hate the idea, but for investigators it's a no-brainer -- proving that you moved money for Osama can be hard, but proving that you held a job in violation of your student visa, or that you lied about being a U.S. citizen, or some other immigration-related infraction, is a lot easier.

Cori Dauber blogged The claim that the Muslim and Arab community are being treated differently when it comes to immigration violations is probably not technically true -- it isn't the entire community in a blanket sense that's at risk here -- but it's clearly true that it's members of that community who are subject to this, when, say, all those illegal Irish immigrants needn't worry.

On the other hand, I don't know how persuasive an argument that is at the end of the day. Everyone agrees there are millions of illegals living inside the United States. Unless you just believe in de facto amnesty, just shrugging and giving up, then the immigration laws need to be enforced. Well, there clearly aren't enough resources to start investigating all those cases simultaneously. You need some criteria to guide the order in which you go. What do you suggest? Chronology? alphabetical by name? alphabetical by ethnic or religious group or country of origin? or something that holds out the merit of having a bit more potential for practical value?