Respicio to Bordallo: Feds must take lead to deport all foreign criminals

Senator Rory J. Respicio introduced Resolution No. 433-33 (COR) which calls on Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo to exercise all means necessary in order that the Department of Homeland Security and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency implement the deportation of “all foreign habitual criminals” from Guam.

This would include all foreign criminals convicted on Guam of crimes “in violation of the Compacts of Free Association and other treaties as well as laws of Guam and the laws of the United States.”

Citing the burden on the local community in form of crime and strain on law enforcement resources, Respicio stated that its time the federal authorities step up and carry out deportations of habitual foreign criminals that were admitted under treaties entered into by the federal government.

Resolution No. 433-33 (COR) states that DHS has “consistently neglected to adequately enforce” provisions of these laws and treaties with foreign governments, as well as local Guam laws. Respicio also mentioned that the “’Three Strikes’ Provision for Habitual Offenders of Serious Crimes” law includes a provision he authored that requires, “upon conviction of a deportable crime, the Attorney General of Guam shall immediately notify the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of Guam’s desire to have the COFA citizen deported, requiring that the AG work closely with the U.S. ICE Division of DHS to ensure all documents related to the conviction and required for deportation are immediately provided to the proper authorities.”

Respicio is also on record as being in favor of Governor Calvo’s recent executive action to deport foreign criminals, and has authored Resolution No. 418-33 (COR), which is relative to registering the support of I Mina Trentai Tres Na Liheslaturan Guahan for Executive Order 2016-5 issued by Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, and conveying that the Rule of Law must remain at the core of the Calvo Administration’s efforts to deport foreign criminals from Guam.

In a related letter to Bordallo, Respicio said, “I fully support Governor Calvo’s initiative in deporting these criminals as a means of jump starting this process.”

For more information, please contact Senator Respicio’s office at 472-7679.