Top DHS official shows ‘favoritism’ to wealthy, Dem-connected immigrants: report
By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Tuesday, March 24, 2015
The No. 2 official at the Homeland Security Department meddled in three high-profile immigration cases, giving special treatment to applications from wealthy and well-connected immigrants after calls from major Democrats despite the objections of career employees, the department's inspector general concluded in a report Tuesday.
Alejandro Mayorkas, who was elevated from head of the department's legal immigration agency to be deputy secretary while the investigation was ongoing, also angered many of his colleagues by getting involved in the cases, and "created an appearance of favoritism and special access" for the wealthy immigrants, the inspector general concluded.
Inspector General John Roth said the cases involved major Democrats: former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Sen. Harry Reid, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Anthony Rodham, brother of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In each case, pressure from those individuals helped earn favorable treatment, Mr. Roth said.
The damning 99-page report also found problems with Homeland Security's records-retention, reminiscent of the questions surrounding the IRS, the EPA and now the State Department and Mrs. Clinton's email practices.
Investigators said it was striking how many whistleblowers came forward to complain about Mr. Mayorkas's behavior — and how worried they were about maintaining their anonymity, fearing retribution.
The inspector general said the large number of whistleblowers, who worked both at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services headquarters in Washington and in the California office that is charged with handling the applications, shows just how deeply resentment ran against Mr. Mayorkas's actions.
At issue is the EB-5 program, designed to attract wealthy foreigners who promise to invest money in the U.S. It has been the subject of controversy, with some critics saying it is rife with fraud and amounts to allowing the wealthy to buy their way into the U.S.
The program has grown under President Obama, from about 1,000 petitions a year when he took office to nearly 11,000 petitions in fiscal 2014. The program approves about 75 percent of applications.
The inspector general's exhaustive investigation included about 50 interviews, more than one million emails and other computer files, and an analysis of more than 40,000 phone calls.
Mr. Mayorkas, in a lengthy written reply attached to the report, said he got involved in the cases to try to ensure the EB-5 program's integrity and he denied he was motivated by politics. He said he became more involved because he heard complaints that the adjudication process wasn't working very well.
"I found it necessary to intervene personally to drive change and improve a gravely flawed program," he said, adding that once he felt he had set the program on the right path in 2012, he backed away.
"What had changes was not the identity of the petitioners — which never mattered to me — but the need for my personal involvement," he said, adding that as director, he viewed himself as "the final quality assurance officer" making sure his agency reached the right decisions in all cases.
Mr. Roth, though, said it was strange that Mr. Mayorkas stayed out of so many other cases, only choosing to intervene in the three high-profile ones involving politically connected backers such as Mr. Reid and Mr. McAuliffe.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Mayorkas rejected Mr. Roth's conclusions but said he will learn from the report nonetheless.
Mr. Obama elevated Mr. Mayorkas last year from head of USCIS to the deputy secretary's position for all of Homeland Security. Democrats, led by Mr. Reid, pushed his nomination through notwithstanding objections from Republicans who said they should wait for Mr. Roth's report.
Mr. Mayorkas would likely have been blocked had Mr. Reid not used the so-called "nuclear option" to neuter the GOP's power to filibuster nominees.
Mr. Reid's office did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, in a statement, said he has given Mr. Mayorkas a talking-to, but blamed the program for the problems found in the audit. Mr. Johnson big figures in both parties try to exert pressure on his department to approve applications, and he called for "a new protocol" to try to free the EB-5 program from influence.
He also blamed Congress, saying he's asked for more legal powers to deny or revoke some cases.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...grants-report/
Sen. Grassley: DHS Must Hold Top Official Accountable For Acts Of Democrat Favoritism
by Caroline May
27 Mar 2015
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is calling on Department of Homeland Security Sec. Jeh Johnson to hold Deputy DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas accountable for his actions while director of USCIS — granting EB-5 visa benefits to Democratically connected foreign investors.
Earlier this week the DHS Inspector General released a report investigating allegations by numerous whistle-blowers. The IG found Mayorkas used his power while he was head of USCIS to get approval for EB-5 visas for parties with connections to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Anthony Rodham, brother of Hillary Clinton.
“The juxtaposition of Mr. Mayorkas’ communication with external stakeholders on specific matters outside the normal procedures, coupled with favorable action that deviated from the regulatory scheme designed to ensure fairness and evenhandedness in adjudicating benefits, created an appearance of favoritism and special access,” the IG’s report reads.
Despite the scathing report, Johnson on Tuesday said he has “full confidence” in Mayorkas, but said there “are lessons to be learned from the Inspector General’s report.”
“I have discussed this with Deputy Secretary Mayorkas and I am confident he understands this,” Johnson said in a statement.
According to Grassley, however, Mayorkas needs more than a talking to.
“The U.S. immigration system should be governed by equal application of the law—not by who has the best political connections,” Grassley wrote in a letter to Johnson Thursday. “While I appreciate that you and Mr. Mayorkas have learned from the Inspector General’s report, the standards of ethical conduct should have been followed on day one by the Director.”
Grassley stressed in his letter to Johnson that the Secretary has a duty to hold Mayorkas accountable for his actions.
“The Inspector General’s report paints a clear picture of how Mr. Mayorkas, when Director of the agency, used poor judgment and provided preferential treatment to certain petitioners and regional center applicants in the EB-5 immigrant investor program,” Grassley wrote. “You have an obligation to ensure there is accountability.”
The Iowa lawmaker — who himself had been pressing about the EB-5 matter and requested that Mayorkas’ confirmation to be the Deputy Secretary at DHS be postponed until the matter was resolved — noted that both Johnson and the Democratic majority at the time pushed Mayorkas through despite the allegations of political favoritism.
“The whistle-blowers sacrificed their livelihood, and remain constantly in fear of retaliation because Mr. Mayorkas remains in the Department leadership,” Grassley wrote. “The administration, including you, pressed Congress to move Mr. Mayorkas’ nomination through despite the ongoing review by the Inspector General. Therefore, it is incumbent on you to take action to hold him accountable.”
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...at-favoritism/
