Thread: ARIZONA SENATORS RESPOND TO DHS/DOJ REPORT

ARIZONA SENATORS RESPOND TO DHS/DOJ REPORT ON OPERATION STREAMLINE EXPANSION; CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION

US Fed News
August 27, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C.

The office of Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., issued the following news release:

(R-Ariz.) U.S. Senators Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) today called on Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder to resubmit within 30 days a required report on Operation Streamline so that it actually includes the information Congress asked for -- that is, the dollars and resources needed to fully implement the program.

Senator Kyl authored a measure in the 2010 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill requiring DHS and the Department of Justice (DoJ) to collaboratively produce a report to Congress on the resources needed to fully implement Operation Streamline, which requires jail time for illegal immigrants every time they cross the border. The program has served as a highly effective deterrent to illegal crossings when fully implemented, including in such areas as Arizona's Yuma Border Patrol Sector, where illegal immigrant apprehensions have decreased some 90 percent in the last three years.

In order to provide the appropriate resources for Operation Streamline, Congress must first know what resources are necessary to fully implement the program in the Tucson Sector and other sectors along the Southwest border. The Tucson Sector, for example, needs additional Streamline-specific resources because, while apprehensions there have decreased some during the last few years, illegal crossings have persisted at an alarming rate -- about 250,000 annually over the last few years (and a similar number of apprehensions will likely occur there in 2010 as well).

The report, which was due on December 27, 2009, was finally issued on August 13. Despite Congress's requirements, the seven-page report fails to include the substantive analysis and recommendations necessary for full implementation of the program.

Senators Kyl and McCain today sent the following letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder:

"We have received the brief report from Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar about Operation Streamline. We appreciate knowing that CBP is fully supportive of existing Operation Streamline programs and that the agency supports the program's expansion.

"As you will recall, the 2010 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill required 'the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Administrative Office of the Courts...to submit a report that provides details about additional Border Patrol Sectors that should be utilizing Operation Streamline programs and resources needed from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Judiciary to increase the effectiveness of Operation Streamline programs at some Border Patrol sectors and to utilize such programs at additional sectors.'

"Senator Kyl also raised this issue with both of you in early 2009 when you visited with him prior to your confirmation hearings, he raised it again as part of the formal confirmation process, and he has asked in each of your oversight hearings for complete answers about the resources needed to fully implement Operation Streamline.

"The report sent to us, however, provides none of the quantifiable information needed to determine the kinds of resources that will be required to fully implement Streamline, as mandated by the DHS bill.

"You had nearly a year to complete the report, which was due December 27, 2009. We had hoped that you were using those extra eight months to complete a robust analysis about how to make Operation Streamline fully operational, in particular in the Tucson Sector where more than half of all illegal immigrant apprehensions occur. Instead, the seven-page report amounts to an affirmation that CBP supports Operation Streamline and a collection of statistics that could easily be found on the Internet in a matter of minutes, not months.

"We are disappointed that we waited a year for a report that completely fails to meet the requirements set forth by Congress."

"Please provide to us the following within the next 30 days: the resources, and concurrent dollar amounts, needed to fully implement Operation Streamline, including funding and resources needed for the United States Marshals Service (including the number of additional Deputy U.S. Marshals), Administrative Office of the Courts courthouse renovation and holding space, administrative increases (that is, criminal clerks for each District to process additional cases), additional judges and U.S. Attorneys, additional CBP lawyers needed to assist U.S. Attorneys offices, detention space that would fall under jurisdiction of the Justice Department and the Administrative Office of the Courts, and other costs.

"Thank you for your attention to this matter."

For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

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very good John and Jon, but dont go holding your breath waiting for an answer.

and while your waiting. maybe you can also ask for answers as to why immigration deportations are being dropped because the person involved supposedly has no criminal record