It appears that the recent spate of highly publicized murders by violent illegal aliens has moved the Department of Homeland Security to do something they haven't been doing all along: inform local authorities that they have released a dangerous criminal in their jurisdiction.

Washington Free Beacon:

Obama administration officials only began notifying local law enforcement officials of the release of violent criminal illegal immigrants within the last two weeks, according to Arizona law enforcement officials, who say they have for years been kept in the dark about the release of illegal immigrants back into local towns.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had been keeping secret its release of illegal immigrants with violent criminal records from local law enforcement for at least two years, denying for a time that this was taking place, law enforcement officials disclosed to the Washington Free Beacon.

The public disclosure of this practice, in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) frees criminal illegal immigrants back into U.S. communities, came to light earlier this week, when Arizona law enforcement was made aware that three illegal aliens with violent criminal records had been released back onto the streets.

Local law enforcement officials and members of Congress have expressed outrage over the practice and have petitioned DHS in recent days to end a policy they described as “catch and release.”

At least three illegal aliens released by DHS in recent weeks have been charged with serious crimes, including the beating of a 7-week-old baby and immolation of a person, according to local law enforcement officials and Rep Matt Salmon (R., Ariz.).

Other Arizona law enforcement officials in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office further disclosed to the Free Beacon that they still are being kept in the dark about such releases and questioned whether DHS has implemented a standard nationwide practice to alert local officials.

“When I learned that there isn’t a requirement for DHS to inform local law enforcement agencies about the imminent release of illegal alien criminals, I was shocked,” Salmon said. “In our post 9/11 world, where the constant sharing of information between agencies is commonplace, even sometimes at the expense of our rights, this is unacceptable. Simply put, if DHS insists on releasing dangerous illegal aliens into our neighborhoods the public and law enforcement need to know about it. I am now working to amend existing law to require that local agencies be notified by DHS before illegal aliens with violent criminal records are released.

Absolute madness.  DHS release these criminals and then cross their fingers and hope for the best.  And then, when the entirely predictable violence is unleashed, they look to blame someone else for their reckless policiies.

Border security is our first line of defense against criminal elements coming into the country illegally.  What good does it do to catch them and, instead of sending them back because of their criminal record, give them the key and allow them to walk out the door with the promise that they will appear before a judge at a later date?

At the very least, immigration authorities should be forced to inform the locals when they are ready to release these criminals back into the general population.

Maybe we could get President Obama to issue an executive order to that effect.