Wow, they really really, want this badly don't they? It's bad enough politicians are trying to ram this amnesty down our throats, now they want to sneak it through by bureaucratic fiat. Add Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to the list of officials to be impeached. Every day the list seems to get larger with this administration. ----lee
By Stephen Dinan
The Washington Times
Updated: 3:49 p.m. on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A series of new internal rules has effectively created a possible backdoor amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants, Senate Republicans charged on Tuesday in a letter demanding that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano explain the new policies.
Ms. Napolitano has said her department is trying to focus resources on illegal immigrants with long criminal records, but the letter, signed by all seven Republicans on the committee that oversees immigration, said it appears the administration instead is trying to carve out categories of illegal immigrants that won't be deported at all.
Indeed, the latest statistics show deportations are, in fact, down slightly compared with the similar period last year. The administration has dramatically stepped up removals of convicted criminal immigrants, deporting 51,981 more than last year, an increase of 42 percent. But deportation of other immigrants is down even more, dropping by 53,934 through August.
"It is increasingly clear that this administration is following the spirit of these proposals by dramatically narrowing its efforts to remove whole classes of illegal immigrants," the senators said.
President Obama has faced pressure from immigrant-rights groups who have called for him to halt all deportations and instead work on a bill to legalize most illegal immigrants.
Sen. John Cornyn, Texas RepublicanMr. Obama has called for Congress to act on legislation but has rejected the idea of halting all deportations, saying in his major immigration speech earlier this year that that "would be both unwise and unfair."
"It would suggest to those thinking about coming here illegally that there will be no repercussions for such a decision. And this could lead to a surge in more illegal immigration. And it would also ignore the millions of people around the world who are waiting in line to come here legally," he said.
But the administration has refocused its efforts to concentrate on immigrants with criminal records, arguing that's a better use of limited resources. And they point to the dramatic increase in deportations of immigrants with criminal records as evidence they've succeeded.
Matt Chandler, a spokesman for Ms. Napolitano, said the department will respond directly to the senators, but he said officials have ruled out using their administrative powers to grant parole or defer deportations for broad swaths of immigrants.
Mr. Chandler also said the figures showing increased removals of criminal immigrants indicate the department is serious about enforcement.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/21/senators-say-dhs-allows-backdoor-amnest
No comments:
Post a Comment