MICHELLE MALKIN REPORTS that the D.C. sniper case is another case of the INS dropping the ball:

Here are the facts the INS doesn’t want you to know: Lee Malvo is an illegal alien from Jamaica who jumped ship in Miami in June 2001. He was apprehended by the Border Patrol in Bellingham, Wash., in December 2001, but was then let go by the INS district in Seattle in clear violation of federal law and contrary to what the arresting Border Patrol officers intended, according to my law enforcement sources. . . .

Malvo and James traveled to Tacoma, Wash., and ended up in Bellingham. At the time of their arrest, INS records indicate, neither Malvo nor his mother had any documents proving their identities or allowing them “to be or remain in the United States legally.” The Border Patrol agents concluded that because she had “no roots or close family ties in the United States, James was likely to abscond.” The arresting officer noted that the mother-and-son illegal aliens, Malvo and James, would be “detained at the Seattle Detention facility in Seattle, Washington pending deportation charges.”

That’s not what happened. About a month after their arrest, Malvo and his mother were set free by the Seattle district INS-contrary to what the arresting Border Patrol officers had determined should be done. And in clear violation of federal law regarding the removal of illegal alien stowaways.

When you add this to the 9/11 State Department visa scandal, it seems obvious that there’s a serious problem. I wonder why Democrats aren’t after the Bush Administration to do more to protect us from dangerous and illegal immigrants?

UPDATE: John Carney points out that Malkin predicted that it would be “non-white Muslim extremists” two weeks ago. Advantage: Malkin!