Crime Prime Time Yet to Begin?

A recent article in the weekly El Informador ponders the problems inherent with the introduction of ex-cons into the general population; concern grows in Tijuana as 10 to 15 California convicts are deported daily from the U.S.

The Salvation Army unit in TJ is tending to 120 deportados a day, of which some 30 percent have spent time in U.S. prisons.

Mexican federal deputy Francisco Vega de la Madrid is promoting the establishment of a system designed to monitor the ex-cons and wants the state and federal government to help them reintegrate into society. He would like to see a change in the federal work law so that it does not discriminate against those who have spent time behind bars.

Vega pointed out that deportados frequently cannot find work or establish their nationality because it difficult for them to obtain the requisite national ID card upon re-entry.

The municipal secretary of public security, Julian Leyzaola, said that police are not kept apprised of when deportees will arrive at the city gates, but added that perhaps it is better that their arrival is unannounced since local police have a certain bias against such individuals.