More news on the Fort Dix Six. The three Duka brothers, all illegal aliens, not only should not have been in the United States; they should have been deported from the United States before they had the chance to plot jihad against our troops. Except … local law enforcement (a) frequently does not check the immigration status of arrestees, and (b) often does not notify the immigration authorities even if upon learning that an arrestee is in the U.S. illegally. WNBC News in New York reports:
Suspect Dritan Duka has past arrests on charges of disorderly conduct and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. He also has six separate speeding and driving with a suspended license infractions, records show.
Shain Duka has past arrests on charges of obstruction of justice, hindering apprehension and making physical threats. He also has five separate traffic infractions. Eljvir Duka has past drug counts and at least two motor vehicle infractions.
The three brothers are accused of helping lead the plot to shoot soldiers at Fort Dix. They are being held without bail. The fact that at least three of the suspects had past run-ins with the law and are in the United States illegally was brought up on Capitol Hill Thursday.
California congressman Elton Gallegly pointed out Mohammed Atta, one of the Sept. 11 hijackers, was stopped by police for a traffic violation weeks before the attacks. Atta was also in the United States illegally, having overstayed his visa. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told the panel that many local law enforcement agencies do not check the immigration status of a driver during traffic stops….
A traffic stop is one thing, but an arrest is quite another. A judge can’t set bail responsbily without being advised of a person’s immigration status since it is relevant to assessing the risk of flight (i.e., the likelihood that the person will return to court as directed until charges are resolved). If these guys were arrested multiple times, it would be hard to believe that the authorities did not know they were illegal aliens.