Sen. Cornyn: Deeply Flawed Immigration System In Need of Major Overhaul & Infusion of Resources; Not Piecemeal Approach

Statement

Sen. Cornyn: Deeply Flawed Immigration System In Need of Major Overhaul & Infusion of Resources; Not Piecemeal Approach

Comments On Administration's Proposals Regarding SCAAP and Secure Communities Program

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee, today issued the following statement regarding President Obama's request to expand the Secure Communities program, which seeks to check the immigration status of every person booked into local jails.

"Checking the immigration status of every incarcerated individual is a laudable goal. In an ideal world, this would already be the status quo. But the reality is our immigration system is deeply flawed and in need of a major overhaul and infusion of resources--which I have been pushing for since I was first elected to the Senate.

"I applaud the Administration for seeking to advance the goal of 100 percent checks at state and local jails. But, given ICE's lack of manpower, resources, and detention capacity, large sums of state taxpayer dollars will still be needed to pay for the prosecution and incarceration of criminal aliens. This is why I strongly oppose the President's plan to eliminate the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. Immigration is a federal responsibility and federal reimbursement for costs associated with criminal aliens is critical.

"We cannot continue to address our immigration challenges piecemeal; we must tackle the core issues and pass comprehensive reform that secures our borders and provides our border patrol and enforcement officials with the resources they need. I hope the President will deliver on his promise to address immigration reform as soon as possible, and I stand ready to assist him to that end."

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