The retail theft crisis gripping American storefronts is a crisis in our immigration policy.
Federal immigration authorities have failed to collect crucial background information about foreign nationals entering our country under the special visa program. In doing so, they contributed to a crisis that turned American retailers into lightning domes violence and crime.
Organized retail theft costs retailers billions and contributes to an insecure environment that engulfs consumers and employees. Unlike shoplifting, organized retail theft involves criminal gangs that specialize in mass theft of inventory for resale in other markets. These criminals vary in sophistication, from small-time thieves selling stolen power drills online to international syndicates linked to drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of 41 countries to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. Participating countries must share basic information, such as criminal history, with our immigration authorities and provide our citizens with the same entry privileges.
Criminals from all over the world are using this system to rob American retailers. Let’s call it criminal tourism.
The main criminals are criminals from Chile. Chilean burglary cells violent crime sprees across America have been linked to hundreds of home burglaries and massive livestock thefts. A Chilean thief who was acting as a crew member was reportedly arrested in southern California after stealing $75,000 worth of merchandise from a Lululemon company. local press. The report linked this man and his person to two robberies of jewelry stores, the proceeds of which exceeded one million dollars.
Even if criminals are apprehended, bringing them to justice is tough. Prosecutors say the Chilean government is failing in its obligation to provide criminal history information to program participants. This is a problem because criminal history is an crucial factor in sentencing.
“14 Chilean citizens made a declaration [of sentences] from probation to credit served up to two years in state prison over fierce opposition from Orange County prosecutors” – Orange County District Attorney’s Office he said earlier this year. “A further seven defendants were released on bail with no criminal history to support an argument for an increase in bail.”
The statement added that the Chilean defendants presented “an exceptionally frustrating challenge because the Chilean government has refused to provide us with the criminal history of Chilean citizens using the ESTA VISA program to enter the United States.”
These anecdotes accurately describe the scale and complexity of organized retail theft. As I have written before, these organized retail gangs are integrated into the most threatening criminal networks in the world. Michael Krol, a senior law enforcement official in the Department of Homeland Security’s criminal investigations division, testified on the matter before a congressional panel on December 12.
“It is widely recognized that 21st century polycrime networks are diversifying their criminal portfolios to increase profitability and influence,” Krol said. “It is not uncommon for organized groups of thieves, who are no longer associated with any criminal scheme or enterprise, to be involved in or associated with networks that commit financial fraud, identify theft, people smuggling and trafficking, illicit trade, money laundering and drugs and weapons tracing , among others.”
The good news is that Congress has noticed the problem. Earlier this year they sent Southern California lawmakers letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging him to strengthen cooperation with the Chilean authorities. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy endangered to withdraw funds from the program, at least for Chile.
More extensive scrutiny of the visa waiver program is needed. Reports indicate organized crime syndicates from all over the world – Romania, it seems other main player – they deal with retail theft in this country. Immigration authorities should ensure that each country participating in the waiver program provides the necessary information about its nationals. No fresh country should be allowed to join the waivers program until we are satisfied that the system works as intended.
Republicans in Congress must be prepared to withdraw funds from the program for countries that do not follow the rules. Soros’s prosecutors are doing enough to assist criminals.
Ken Blackwell is a senior advisor to the Family Research Council and former Ohio State Treasurer.
