Bracing For Sequester, What Will Change?

http://www.voanews.com/content/immigration-and-customs-releases-detainees-ahead-of-congressiona-budget-cuts-sequester/1611383.html

"Voice of America - News -Bracing For Sequester, US Frees Illegal Immigrants"
In the recent weeks, Congress has been postponing their responsibility to deal with the budget crisis in the United States. Much like the Fiscal Cliff, lawmakers are sitting on their hands until it is the last minute, playing political chicken, also known as Brinkmanship. This is becoming more interesting as the "automatic cuts" will begin taking place. I believe this is becoming a political pawn for both sides, to argue that the other side failed the American people. I believe this is being used by both sides to just make simple and "ax" like slashes from every department of government, instead of using a scalpel to ensure cuts are being done correctly.

These cuts are going to start being played up by each agency of government, Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE) is now coming out of the woodwork and "letting immigrants go" to prepare for budget cuts. Stakeholders both in favor and opposition of this release are also coming out with official statements, which range from, these folks should have been let go along time ago, and these are "dangerous" criminals.

What I think many people forget is the difference in crimes, for instance, in the United States we distinguish between two types of violations: malum en se  and malum prohibitum. Malum en se are the violations against ones body, for example: murder, theft, assault, etc. Malum Prohibitum are violations simply because the governing body says its a violation: Drug Policy, Speeding, Immigration, etc. This is an important distinction to make because many of these "unauthorized persons" are not malum en se criminals, but rather prohibitum. Malum en se immigrants in detention centers are remaining in Priority Detention.

The United States through our immigration system, purposefully made them an "illegal immigrant" by either missing the deadline to renew their visa (3:10 rule) or by eliminating local markets in Mexico which in turn create seasonal agricultural migration. These folks are not dangerous, but rather pursuing what even we would call "The American Dream". Freedom to move when the economy tells you its time to move. I believe that is what NAFTA should have improved, our local transnational immigration laws. Our immediate neighbors Canada and Mexico should have relatively free movement for the purpose of trade (land, labor, capital) within North America, since we have entered into a Trade Agreement and tacitly recognized that common interests can be met through cooperation.  



Sequestration - In light of ICE freaking out about budget cuts, I thought we would also take a quick look at the proposed sequestration.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/questions-answers-sequester/story?id=18623605&page=2
 In this ABCnews article we can see how it will work to a certain extent. $85 Billion over 10 months this year - this is to be carried out over 10 years (1.2 Trillion) both Defense and Non-Defense.
Programs exempt from sequestration: Food stamps, Pell Grants, Children's Health Insurance, Social Security, Veterans Benefits, Medicare (payments will shrink by 2% to hospitals).  

edit 3/1/2013: added (3:10 rule)