Durbin Calls on Federal and Local Law Enforcement Officials to Develop Action Plan to Apprehend International Fugitives
Noting that officials share his concern, Durbin asks for meeting to ensure the better coordination needed to bring dangerous fugitives to justice in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Prompted by a Chicago Tribune investigation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on federal and local law enforcement officials to develop an action plan to apprehend international fugitives wanted for committing serious crimes in Illinois. While noting a shared concern over the growing problem, Durbin asked for a meeting between federal, state and local law enforcement officials to make sure that all efforts are coordinated in order to bring these dangerous fugitives to justice.
“The Tribune has identified more than 60 suspects charged with crimes such as murder, rape, and other violent offenses who have fled to Mexico, and data from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that 129 suspects have fled Illinois across the border and remain at large. These numbers are unacceptably high,” wrote Durbin. “Because I am certain that each of you share this concern, I request that your agencies promptly provide an action plan detailing steps they will take to respond to this problem.”
Data from the U.S. Department of Justice cited in an ongoing series in the Chicago Tribune show that the number of international fugitives has generally grown every year for the past 10 years. The Tribune reports that only two of the 129 fugitives known to the Department of Justice were cross-listed by Interpol. And according to their report, the lack of apprehension of fugitives may stem partly from the lack of coordination and information-sharing between local, federal, and international law enforcement agencies.
“I have introduced legislation in the past to address the fugitive issue, and I am prepared to offer you any assistance you may need to deal with this issue,” wrote Durbin. “I am ready to use all available resources to facilitate your action plan. To make sure that all efforts are coordinated, I will convene a meeting of relevant state and federal law enforcement agencies, including your agencies and the U.S. Department of Justice.”
Durbin introduced legislation in the last two Congresses that seeks to increase the number of State and local fugitives who are arrested and prosecuted. The Fugitive Information Networked Database Act of 2010 (FIND Act) is designed to coordinate state and local data on warrants into the national database, increase the number of extraditions of fugitives caught in other states and to ascertain whether pretrial release programs are operating effectively.
[Text of Durbin’s letters to Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Garry McCarthy and United States Attorney General Eric Holder are pasted below]
November 7, 2011
Anita Alvarez
State’s Attorney
Cook County State’s Attorney Office
50 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602
Thomas Dart
Sheriff
Cook County Sheriff’s Office
50 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602
Garry McCarthy
Superintendent
Chicago Police Department
3510 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
Dear State’s Attorney Alvarez, Sheriff Dart, and Superintendent McCarthy:
Given the growing problem of apprehending international fugitives wanted for committing serious crimes in Illinois, I want to work with you to prepare an effective response. We need to develop a plan to address what has become an unacceptable lack of enforcement.
According to the ongoing series in the Chicago Tribune, data from the U.S. Department of Justice show that the number of international fugitives has generally grown every year for the past 10 years. In particular, the large number of suspects fleeing from northern Illinois is deeply troubling. It appears that neither local nor federal law enforcement have been able to keep up with this increase in fugitives.
Because of the obvious need to improve the apprehension of these dangerous suspects, it is critical for your agencies to help identify the source of the problem and work in collaboration with each other and with the federal authorities to address it. I have introduced legislation in the past to address the fugitive issue, and I am prepared to offer you any assistance you may need to deal with this issue.
As you are probably aware, the Tribune has identified more than 60 suspects charged with crimes such as murder, rape, and other violent offenses who have fled to Mexico, and data from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that 129 suspects have fled Illinois across the border and remain at large. These numbers are unacceptably high. Worse, the Tribune’s description of specific cases involving murder and sexual assault suspects suggests that criminal defendants attempting to flee the U.S. have few obstacles to stop them. Once outside of the U.S., it seems that too little is done to extradite them back to the U.S.
Because you are on the front lines of this enforcement challenge, I would like to hear more from you on the nature and cause of this problem. I would also appreciate your input as to how the apprehension and extradition of fugitives can be significantly improved.
Reports indicate that the lack of apprehension of fugitives may stem partly from the lack of coordination and information-sharing between local, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. For example, the Tribune indicates that only two of the 129 fugitives known to DOJ were cross-listed by Interpol. Please provide your perspective on the effectiveness of current information-sharing efforts. In addition, I am all too aware of the lack of resources available for our law enforcement agencies at this time due to budget challenges and recognize that this may pose challenges to enforcement efforts. If additional resources are needed, please identify them.
As I am sure you would agree, our law enforcement agencies must ensure that dangerous fugitives are brought to justice in Illinois and that other suspects clearly understand that they cannot flee our borders without being caught. I am ready to use all available resources to facilitate your action plan. To make sure that all efforts are coordinated, I will convene a meeting of relevant state and federal law enforcement agencies, including your agencies and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Thank you, and I look forward to your responses.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
November 7, 2011
The Honorable Eric Holder
Attorney General of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Attorney General Holder:
Given the growing problem of apprehending international fugitives wanted for committing serious crimes in Illinois, I want to work with you to prepare an effective response. We need to develop a plan to address what has become an unacceptable lack of enforcement.
According to the ongoing series in the Chicago Tribune, data from the U.S. Department of Justice show that the number of international fugitives has generally grown every year for the past 10 years. In particular, the large number of suspects fleeing from northern Illinois troubles me. It appears that both local and federal law enforcement have not been able to keep up with this increase in fugitives.
Because of the obvious need to improve the apprehension of these dangerous suspects, it is critical for your department to help identify the source of the problem and work in collaboration with local and state authorities to address it. I have introduced legislation in the past to address the fugitive issue, and I am prepared to offer you any assistance you may need to deal with this issue.
As you may be aware, the Tribune has identified more than 60 suspects charged with crimes such as murder, rape, and other violent offenses who have fled to Mexico, and data from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that 129 suspects have fled Illinois across the border and remain at large. These numbers are unacceptably high. Worse, the Tribune’s description of specific cases involving murder and sexual assault suspects suggests that criminal defendants attempting to flee the U.S. have few obstacles to stop them. Once outside of the U.S., it seems that too little is done to extradite them back to the U.S.
Because you are on the front lines of this enforcement challenge, I am sure that you can provide further information on the nature and cause of this problem. I would also appreciate your input as to how the apprehension and extradition of fugitives can be significantly improved at the federal level.
Reports indicate that the lack of apprehension of fugitives may stem partly from the lack of coordination and information-sharing between local, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. For example, the Tribune indicates that only two of the 129 fugitives known to DOJ were cross-listed by Interpol. Please provide your perspective on the effectiveness of current information-sharing efforts. In addition, I am all too aware of the lack of resources available for our law enforcement agencies at this time due to budget challenges and recognize that this may pose challenges to enforcement efforts. If additional resources are needed, please identify them.
As I am sure you would agree, our law enforcement agencies must ensure that dangerous fugitives are brought to justice in Illinois and that other suspects clearly understand that they cannot flee our borders without being caught. I am ready to use all available resources to facilitate your action plan. To make sure that all efforts are coordinated, I will convene a meeting of relevant state and federal law enforcement agencies, including your department, the Cook County State’s Attorney Office, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you, and I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
Previous Article Next Article