Ship ‘Em Back to El Salvador
by James A. Bacon
When illegal immigrants are convicted of crimes in the United States, some might ask, why deport them? Why not keep them in American jails and prisons?
We just got an answer.
Six Salvadoran inmates of the Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big Stone Gap injured five correctional offers in a premeditated attack Friday morning. According to the Department of Corrections (DOC) press release, three prison guards were stabbed.
Five of the six inmates involved in the attack are confirmed MS-13 gang members from El Salvador and were in the country illegally. Each has been convicted of violent crimes such as aggravated murder, first and second-degree murder, and rape. The sixth alleged assailant, who is from the United States, is a confirmed member of the Sureno 13 gang and is serving a sentence for second degree murder.
Five officers received medical treatment. Three have been discharged; two were admitted to the hospital and are in stable condition.
“Five of the individuals responsible for this senseless attack should never have been in this country in the first place,” said DOC Director Chad Dotson. “Every single day, our officers put their lives on the line to ensure public safety for the more than 8.8 million people across the Commonwealth. This attack is an example of the dangers they face when they show up to work every day.”
The attack is under investigation.
Yeah, I know, everyone residing in the U.S., even non-citizens, should be entitled to due-process rights. We certainly would expect the respect for due process to be reciprocated when Americans encounter criminal proceedings overseas.
But… why can’t we ship evil people like MS-13 gang members convicted of rape, human trafficking, and murder back to El Salvador where the government is willing to house them in their own super-secure facilities? Why do Virginia taxpayers have to cough up $53,000 per year on average to keep these horrible people in our maximum-security prisons? Why must Virginia correctional officers be put at risk to guard against pathologically violent criminals who should never have been in the country in the first place?
