Senate Republicans Demand That Ice Stop Selective Enforcement of Immigration Laws

Press Release

Senator Cornyn Leads Letter from Judiciary Republicans to Sec. Napolitano on Criminal Alien Dismissals

Upon learning that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are dismissing pending removal proceedings in record numbers, including proceedings against some criminal aliens, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today led a group of Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, demanding detailed information about the dismissals. Senate Judiciary Republicans also asked how much funding DHS requires to ensure that it continues to enforce laws against all criminal aliens.

According to recent news reports, immigration judges have dismissed a significant number of cases against criminal aliens in Houston pursuant to a recent policy change by ICE Director John T. Morton. The policy change directs ICE attorneys to review pending cases and seek dismissal if the cases do not involve aliens convicted of felonies or two or more misdemeanors. In Houston, the new policy has resulted in an increase in dismissals of more than 700 percent--up from 27 dismissals in July 2010 to 217 in August. Although the reports focus on Houston immigration courts, the implications of the new policy change are widespread. The new immigration policy affects removal proceedings against criminal aliens nationwide and essentially discourages DHS officers from initiating any new removal proceedings for some criminal aliens.

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