Thread: Rep. Grassley: Calls For Immigration Task Force

Rep. Grassley: Calls For Immigration Task Force
8/16/2007

Contact: Josie Klingaman (515) 419-1038

(DES MOINES) - Rep. Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) today called for a new illegal immigration task force to help remove illegal aliens from Iowa prisons. During the last Legislative session, Rep. Grassley sponsored an amendment to create the new task which would not have cost the taxpayers of Iowa any money as it would have shifted money from other departments in order to fund the new division.

Illegal immigrants in Iowa prisons are not a new crisis, but one that Rep. Grassley was trying to correct through this amendment. Currently, the Department of Corrections contacts the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to inform them of an illegal inmate however, ICE rarely takes action to correct this problem. Under the Grassley legislation, ICE would have 30 days to respond to the matter and if nothing was done, the task force would escort the illegal aliens back to Mexico.

Recently, five Hispanic inmates, two of which were in this country illegally, assaulted guards at the Anamosa State Penitentiary.

"Our country is facing a crisis with the influx of illegal aliens. It's time for the state of Iowa to stand up and do whatever it takes to ensure that illegal aliens are not utilizing government services," said Grassley. "It is deplorable when men and women who are working in our prison systems are having their lives and welfare compromised by people who are in this country illegally. It's time the Governor and the Legislature act to protect our correctional officers before it's too late."

The Anamosa State Penitentiary is a maximum security institution which currently houses over 1,200 inmates and employs over 340 guards and officials. On average it costs $21,858 annually or $60 a day to house one illegal criminal in the Anamosa State Penitentiary.

http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=102789

Why aren't these Reps calling for Chertoffs dismissal.It is obvious he is not doing his job and is busy campaigning for amnesty ! I call that a HUGH Conflict of Interest.