Do you know that the USA has more than 2,000,000 people imprisoned – about 720 inmates per 100,000 people? California has the largest prison population in the US at 166,000 [about 470 inmates per 100,000]. The worldwide incarceration rate is 166 per 100,000.

In California alone, there are currently over 154,000 prisoners housed in 33 state prisons that have a rated capacity of 80,000 which means that the prisons are at 186% capacity. An additional 4,200 inmates convicted of lesser offenses are housed in other slightly overcrowded institutions in the state, and 8,000 CA inmates are serving time in other states. Furthermore there are 112,000 people on parole and subject to official monitoring. In California there are 280,000 individuals under state correctional control. Obviously, maintaining this system costs money; California’s state prison system costs $11 billion a year which is 8% of the annual budget. The cost of housing a single prisoner for a year has risen from $35,000 in 2006 to $49,000 in 2009. The state employs more than 60,000 full time correctional officials and several thousand correctional officers at the federal and county levels.

What is the impact on prisoners of California’s overcrowded prison system? According to recent statistics, California’s prisons have some 16,000 ‘ugly’ beds. These are extra bunks stuffed into cells, dorms, gyms, recreational facilities and hallways. Two hundred to three hundred prisoners are double and triple bunked in large open gymnasiums. They are guarded by a single prison officer, armed with a shotgun stationed on a platform high above their heads. In a typical dorm two to three hundred prisoners were crowded into three levels of bunks in grossly substandard World War II era military housing. Only two guards are usually assigned.

Crowded sleeping quarters are only a small portion of the problem. Showers and toilets are too few in number, subject to chronic plumbing problems, and often fail even minimum standards of sanitation. Kitchens, designed for far fewer prisoners, strain to feed the overflow while staff try to keep the facilities hygienic and safe, and the equipment in working order. Libraries, recreational facilities, classrooms and chapels have been closed or converted to dorms.

Medical facilities in prisons also leave much to be desired. Deteriorating prisoner is a serious issue. But even after raising so many concerns to the government, the jails are still overcrowded and the situation is worsening day by day. After having a look at the facts and figures above, we hope you will think seriously before committing an offense because you definitely do not want to be a part of the crowd in these overcrowded jails. When possible, it is advisable to post bail with a reputable bail bondsman in order to avoid transport to a detention center that is overcrowded and filled with people that might have created a more serious crime. Whether you intend to commit a crime or not, it is always a good idea to have the name and number of a reputable bail bondsman and attorney in your back pocket.

There are many reasons that an immigrant could be allowed to immigrate to the United States. Among those legal reason is an immigrant that is seeking a visa as an asylum seeker. An immigrant can seek this type of visa if the person could not return to his or her country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

 The alleged persecution or fear of persecution must be well documented. Most asylum seekers arrive in the U.S. illegally, but legal non-immigrants could also apply for asylum, if they meet the requirements.  Asylum will be denied if the immigrant could be removed to a safe third country pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement with the U.S. Also, asylum could be denied if the application was not filed within one year of arrival in the U.S. or if the immigrant’s previous asylum application was denied. If the immigrant is a persecutor, a security threat or has committed a serious crime, he or she likely will not be granted asylum.

 The process starts with the filing of Form I-589. The immigrant will be interviewed by an asylum officer who could grant asylum or refer the case to an immigration judge for further review. Once your case has been referred to an immigration judge, there is a possibility that it will be longer than a year for your case to be decided. In some cases, asylum seekers must wait out this long period of time in immigration detention until a decision is made.

As a matter of fact, people of United States of America have always welcomed immigrants from all over the world, as they have contributed towards the growth of America’s economy. Even the 43rd President of the United States of America, President Bush, on January 7, 2005 reaffirmed the resolve of the American people to welcome you to the U.S. with open arms, assuming that immigrants use legal means to gain entry into America.

The President, while acknowledging the contributions of immigrants to the development of the United States, stated “Many of you here today are Americans by choice, and you have followed in the path of millions. And over the generations we have received energetic, ambitious, optimistic people from every part of the world. By tradition and conviction, our country is a welcoming society. America is a stronger and better nation because of the hard work and the faith and entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants.”  

There are many ways to enter America, though by far the best way is to enter as a legal immigrant. Should you decide to enter America as an illegal immigrant, the chances that you will need a knowledgeable and responsible bail bondsman will increase significantly. If you are detained for immigrations violations, it is important to know that 1800Libertad is there for you to help you secure your release so that you can carry on with your life once the judge has approved your application for bail.

In a previous blog post, we discussed how some states were beginning to look into taking steps that would bring them closer to the new Arizona Immigration Bill. Today, Mississippi Senate has passed a resolution allowing officers to verify the immigration status of anyone they deem suspicious or whom they think might be in the country illegally. Of course, the bill still has to pass House, and it is unsure whether it will, but this is certainly a step in the same direction as Arizona. This is all in an effort, according to the politicians, to safeguard American jobs. With a reported 49,000 illegal immigrants in Mississippi alone, there could be a valid concern that some jobs are being given to people who do not support the tax system. That being said, is it truly fair to stop every person of Hispanic origin and question their immigration status? For every illegal immigrant, there are many people who have Hispanic roots who are in this country as citizen or legal immigrants.

Perhaps you are an illegal immigrant, and these new laws are concerning to you. With the way that things are currently evolving, if you live in a state where these laws are put into practice, it would be helpful to have the name of a reputable bail bondsman on hand for the possibility that you are detained. If possible, it is also important to already have the name of a reputable attorney as well. If there is a chance that you will be able to be released from detention, your immigration attorney and your bail bondsman will be imperative to that process.

Finding a reputable bail bondsman is not as easy as picking up the phone. Many unscrupulous bail bondsmen exist, and it is important, wherever possible, to obtain a first or second hand recommendation. Picking up the yellow pages and taking a gamble on an unknown bail bondsman or attorney should be done as a last resort.

This country is experiencing a surge in immigration crackdown at the moment it seems, and it is prudent for legal and illegal immigrants alike to be prepared to deal with any situation that may arise. If you feel that you might be in the group that may or may not be stopped and asked about paperwork, it is important that you always have your paperwork with you if you have it. If for some reason you do not, perhaps now is the time to begin looking into a green card, permanent residency, or some other legal avenue of remaining in the country. This would eventually be a better scenario then always having to look over your shoulder worrying about what is next.

Doing what is best for you and your family is paramount. If there is even the smallest chance that you could be detained, take steps today to ensure that you have all of the proper people in place to help should the unfortunate occur.

Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the country’s. As of 2006, the United States accepts more legal immigrants as permanent residents than all other countries in the world combined.

Recent debates on immigration reform have called for increasing enforcement of existing laws with regard to illegal immigrants, building a barrier along some or all of the entire 2,000 mile U.S. / Mexico border, or creating a new guest worker program. With all of this increased enforcement more and more illegal immigrants are being arrested and deported.

If you or a friend did not pass through a U.S immigration checkpoint on a valid visa, then you have entered the U.S. illegally. If you had a visa and it has reached or exceeded the expiration date, you are in the country illegally.

1-800-Libertad understands immigration laws. If you or someone you know has been arrested for US immigration violations, you can call 1-800-Libertad (1-800-542-3782) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.. 1-800-Libertad has bilingual agents available to help you out.

 There are two types of immigration bonds, delivery bonds and voluntary departure bonds. Many non-citizens or illegal aliens that are arrested by ICE and issued a Warrant of Arrest or Notice of Custody Conditions may be eligible for a delivery bond.  The amount of the delivery bond will be large enough to ensure that the non-citizen will appear at all immigration proceedings.  The second type of immigration bond is a voluntary departure bond.  Any non-citizen or alien who is allowed to depart the country voluntarily after being placed in removal proceedings has been given a Voluntary Departure.  The immigration Judge may require that someone post a large enough bond to ensure that the non-citizen leaves the United States within the time specified.

Cash bonds and surety bonds are two options for payment of either a delivery bond or a voluntary departure bond.  It is important to remember that with a cash bond, the full bond amount must be paid on behalf of the non-citizen by someone who has legal status in the United States.  The cash bond must be paid directly to ICE.  For example, if the bond amount is $10,000, then $10,000 must be paid to ICE in order to gain the individuals release. The other option is a surety bond.  If the individual is unable to pay the bond in cash a surety bond is an option.  This will require using the services of a private bail bond company.

Temecula, a city in California, passed a city ordinance that requires employers to verify their employee applicants through an E-Verify system. This is required for business owners to maintain their business license. The E-Verify system compares applicants with government records. Is this legal? Can a city have a specific immigration ordinance that isn’t necessarily enforced across the entire state?

This issue is currently being debated. If Arizona’s SB-1070 passes, it could set a new precedent for the entire country. Arizona’s SB-1070 makes an individual who is not carrying proper paperwork potentially breaking the law. One question that is raised is does this violate individual’s civil rights? How can it be legal for a city to enforce the E-Verify system when it is in clear violation of a federal law? Federal law states that the E-Verify system is voluntary, it cannot be mandatory. City governments say that they have the ability to set up city specific ordinances under the blanket of sanctuary city ordinances.

Sanctuary city ordinances give immigrants that are undocumented protection beyond what is offered by the federal government. Advocates for sanctuary tend to agree that giving more rights is inherently different than taking rights away. These are two sides of the immigration law coin. Does an individual city have the legal right to take away or to give rights to illegal immigrants?

As this issue is debated and as laws and bills are passed, a gray area is left for immigrants in this country. It is extremely difficult to know whether you are legal in one state when on city within that state can have ordinances that differ from the entire state. The confusion grows as each state a have different ordinances from every other state in the country. How does an immigrant know if they are breaking the law?

Until these immigration issues are settled, it is advisable for any individual that may have their legal status questioned to carry acceptable paperwork. What paperwork is considered legal? Specific work visas can be issued, along with any paperwork that proves that you are in the county legally. Even if one doesn’t agree with the state of affairs that lawmakers have created, we must abide by the laws of this country. Should confusion result in an arrest, make sure you have some knowledge of immigration laws. If need be, retain a bail bondsman and a good lawyer, both who have a firm understanding of immigration law.

Keeping on top of the laws that are specific for your geographic area is also advisable. If traveling is coming up in the near future, it is worth the time to read up on the laws for the area you are visiting. It is always better to be safe than sorry in regards to having the proper paperwork that will appease the law enforcement agencies one may encounter.

A factor that lawmakers might want to consider when deciding about implementing harsh immigration laws is the seasonal labor that is necessary for farmers in the United States. If harsher immigration laws are passed that hinders the potential for immigrants to partake in seasonal work, who are the farms going to hire? Should the government develop programs to support farmers with seasonal workers? How does this affect the person who may be facing severe consequences that fall under the laws of immigration?

South Carolina is an example of a state that thinks that seasonal laborers should be given temporary worker status. Various categories do exist for work visas, among these are seasonal agricultural workers. If the worker can get approved then they are permitted to work for a certain amount of time within the United States. If seasonal workers are automatically given temporary worker status, they will be able to work within the United States legally for the time needed by the farm.  The question still remains that if the laws become stricter to gain access for permission to work during the height of the agricultural season, who will conduct the work?

Seasonal migrant workers have been working in the agricultural system for decades. They travel and spend part of the year working on farms in the United States and then when the harvesting season is over they return home. Should these workers be liable to such strict immigration laws? This is a issue that begins debates on political, moral and social fronts. This situation does bring up the possibility of more individuals being arrested for breaking immigration laws.

With the current state of immigration laws, harsher laws being implemented by individual states, it can be difficult to know what is considered acceptable in which state. The average person is not going to be aware of all of these changing laws, but should you end up in violation of an immigration law you will need a bail bonds service that is up to date on immigration laws. The bail bondsman should be able to comprehend the situation for the person who has been arrested. The bondsman will be able to provide pertinent information along with comforting the arrested person and their family. Bail can be complicated when dealing with immigration violations, make sure you have hired a trusted individual that is trained and well-versed in immigration law. Their job is to secure your bail, allowing you to stay out of jail, have your court date and see if you are permitted to continue to stay and work in the country.

The debate over immigration law is not going to go away in the near future. It is essential to keep as up to date as you can, along with keeping your paperwork readily available. Should you find yourself accused of being in violation of the law, seek the advice of a trusted bail bondsman immediately. They will have the skill set to help you.

Last year Arizona lawmakers passed a bill that allows law enforcement to seek documentation of the immigration status of people if they appeared “reasonably suspicious”. Individuals who are unable to provide proper identification and documentation can be arrested until they are able to verify their legal status in the country. It also makes it illegal to transport day workers across the border if they do not have the proper permissions to work in the country. This bill became highly controversial. Opponents say this bill violates the constitution by discriminating against the Latino population. The argument is that you can’t tell if someone is illegally in the United States simply by looking at them, therefore you must resort to racial profiling to find just cause to question the legal status of an individual. Those that are proponents of the bill justify the bill by saying it will keep the state of Arizona safe. This is partly in response to the increase in violence along the Mexican border. What implications does this have for Latinos that are legal in this country but are unable to provide documentation at the time of questioning?

In some cases, an arrest may be in the cards, landing an individual in jail or a detention center until he or she is able to provide proper legal documentation proving that they are citizens or have permission to work and/or live in the United States. Even if we do not agree with the bill that Arizona passed, the ramifications of the law must be dealt with. If you are arrested because of the enactment of this law it is important to know your rights and to provide legal documentation as quickly as possible. If deemed necessary, you can contact a bail bonds agent, who will be familiar with immigration laws, to bail you out of jail.

It appears that Arizona may have started a trend that other states desire to follow. Arizona may have started the ball rolling by implementing such a tough bill, but other states might not be far behind, despite the Federal backlash. Following Arizona’s lead, close to 22 states have decided to “crackdown” on immigration laws. Some of these states include:

• • Ohio
  • Michigan
  • Pennsylvania
  • New Jersey
  • Colorado
  • Alabama
  • Texas

Several of these states wish to push the law further than Arizona did by requiring law enforcement to check immigration status. Some states, such as Oklahoma wish to enforce the right to retain vehicles used to transport anyone that is an illegal immigrant. Among the states that are following Arizona’s lead, several wish to require that each employer verify the immigration status of each individual worker. Whether or not these laws come to fruition, it is important to stay on top of what lawmakers wish to do in various states across the country. If you are an immigrant, it is crucial that you know exactly what your status is and keep proof of your

Happy New Year! May this year bring happiness and peace of mind to our employees and to those that use our service. We at 1800Libertad will continue to offer assistance in the areas of immigration bond and traditional bail services. Our bi-lingual fully trained staff of professionals is able to respond to a clients needs during the confusing time that follows someone being arrested and placed in jail.

We are fully equipped to handle the most difficult situations that occur when someone is arrested. Our knowledge in both immigration and criminal bail bonds is second to none. We offer services twenty-four hours a day three hundred and sixty five days out of the year. Our agents are capable of answering any questions that you or your loved ones may have. During the sensitive time between being arrested and placed in jail awaiting bail, questions may arise. Questions that may come up can range from what rights you have, what do you do now that you have been arrested, what is a bail bond, what is collateral and what steps do you need to take to be released on bail to name just a few.

All of your concerns and questions can not only be answered by our agents via phone, but a great deal of information can be found on our website. We discuss the common types of bonds, the exact role of a bail agent and the responsibilities of a co-signer or obligator. Whether your crime deals with immigration laws or criminal laws, we are able to help. We have provided exceptional service in 2010 and will continue to do so for 2011.

We are thankful to those that have used our services and referred us to other people. Because of you we are able to offer our services in a multitude of states, helping people during an extremely difficult time. No one expects or tries to get in trouble, but unfortunately trouble does seem to happen when one least expects it. Ending up in jail is unpleasant and not everyone knows what to expect, what he or she should know or even what rights he or she has. Our team of professionals ensures that you will have all of the information you need. We can also discuss different collateral options to you and your loved ones, should your financial situation not be in a state where you can offer cash security.

Our website offers a vast array of information about the bail bonds process and the nature of bail bonds. We offer assistance in both English and Spanish. We will continue to make strides by providing the latest news regarding bail bonds in the United States. As we begin the New Year, we wish you well and thank you for your patronage.