Thread: Feds accused of granting de facto amnesty to illegal aliens

Feds accused of granting `de facto' amnesty to illegal immigrants

By Stewart M. Powell and Regina Garcia Cano, WASHINGTON BUREAU
Houston Chronicle
Published 07:35 p.m., Wednesday, February 15, 2012

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano's invitation to tout her $59 billion spending request to Congress Wednesday morphed instead into fodder for the nation's irascible debate over undocumented immigrants, a snapshot of fevered quarrels to come in this presidential election year.

Led by a group of conservative Texans, House Republicans told Napolitano they viewed President Barack Obama's policy of selective deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal records as a program effectively granting "amnesty" to millions of other undocumented immigrants allowed to remain in the U.S.

Napolitano, the former governor and attorney general of Arizona, fought back by emphasizing her department is making tough enforcement choices with increasingly scarce resources.

The Obama administration deported more unlawful immigrants last year than anytime in the six-year history of the department, Napolitano declared. A record 55 percent of the 396,906 individuals returned to their homelands had been convicted of felonies or misdemeanors, including 1,119 murderers and 5,848 convicted of sexual offenses.

"It does sound like the administration has implemented de facto amnesty for a large segment of those who are here illegally," said Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston.

Napolitano countered: "I think the amnesty term is quite frankly way too over used with respect to immigration. This is an area that profoundly needs to be re-examined by Congress."

Less money requested

Her presentation kicks off months of hearings, debate and eventual tradeoffs to underwrite operations by DHS' 230,000 personnel for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.

Napolitano asked for slightly less than last year, seeking $5.6 billion for the 22,000-strong agency known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She requested $12 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an agency that includes 21,186 CBP officers at ports of entry and 21,370 U.S. Border Patrol agents.

The department, created after the 9/11 attacks, remains "focused on smart and effective enforcement of U.S. immigration laws" with priorities that emphasize "the identification and removal of criminal aliens and repeat immigration law violators, recent border entrants, and immigration fugitives," Napolitano explained.

Accountability issues

Republican lawmakers did not let Napolitano off the hook during the nearly three-hour hearing. Culberson vigorously peppered her for failing to keep all 34,000 beds in immigration detention facilities filled with unlawful immigrants facing trial or deportation.

"You've got the money to do it; you've got the obligation to do it; you're sworn to uphold the law. Why won't you comply with law and use at least the 34,000 beds that we require you to (use)?" Culberson demanded.

Culberson also challenged Napolitano for largely overlooking unlawful immigrants who abide by the law once in the United States. Napolitano conceded U.S. authorities would not seek to deport illegal immigrants such as a young mother with a nursing child born in the United States, or young adults who arrived with parents, attended school, got good grades and even served in the armed forces.

Serious crimes targeted

But that doorway to admission effectively implements provisions of the so-called Dream Act that failed to clear Congress, said Culberson.

"It is not the law but you're making it the law," he added.

Napolitano reiterated that the Obama administration is instead focusing on those who have committed serious crimes.

"I think it could be argued that you're not meeting the duty and the responsibility of this office. Would you like to respond to that?" asked Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, a former criminal court judge.

"I obviously disagree with that characterization," Napolitano curtly replied.

stewart.powell@chron.com

Feds accused of granting `de facto' amnesty to immigrants - Houston Chronicle

But that doorway to admission effectively implements provisions of the so-called Dream Act that failed to clear Congress, said Culberson.

"It is not the law but you're making it the law," he added.

Glad to finally see some members of Congress standing up and speaking out! It is about darn time!

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Glad to finally see some members of Congress standing up and speaking out! It is about darn time!

W

What do you think we been doing on our 1/2 day off of work? Calling Domino's?
It would be nice to think that our demands of accountability are being responded too by at least some in congress...
We know who they are, and who they are not! I'm equal opportunity..Everyone gets an earful!
The responsive get a Thank you!

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Napolitano countered: "I think the amnesty term is quite frankly way too over used with respect to immigration. This is an area that profoundly needs to be re-examined by Congress."

Nice secure feeling knowing that those in charge of our laws refuse to follow the ones they don't like. I think the law that needs to be re-examined is the entire patriot act and the law that established the Department of Homeland Security. Until it is though, we need to obey the law

Added to ALIPAC homepage news with amended title ..

http://www.alipac.us/content/feds-ac...al-aliens-176/

Janet Napolitano pulled this same act of treason in June of 2011. Does she really think she can make her own law? ANSWER: YES!

Senate turns attention to ‘back-door amnesty’

Published: 10:21 AM 06/28/2011 | Updated: 1:40 PM 06/28/2011

Read more: Janet Napolitano | Back-Door Amnesty | Senate Questions | The Daily Caller

Napolitano, the former governor and attorney general of Arizona, fought back by emphasizing her department is making tough enforcement choices with increasingly scarce resources.

Napolitano asked for slightly less than last year

So she asks for less money and then complains she has fewer resources. Interesting how that works out. That's like me going to my employer and asking for a reduction in pay, then complaining I don't get paid enough.