Thread: Warmer Reception for Immigration Nominee

Warmer Reception for Immigration Nominee
By SAM HANANEL – 4 hours ago


http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hL8S ... srA4JqqTuw

WASHINGTON (AP) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief Julie Myers defended her record Wednesday at her second confirmation hearing in three years, and key senators said she has overcome doubts about her ability to do the job.

President Bush installed Myers, 38, at the Homeland Security Department agency in 2005 while the Senate was in recess. Her appointment as assistant secretary expires at the year's end, but Bush already has nominated her a second time.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, opposed Myers when Bush first named her to the post. But now the independent from Connecticut said Myers' performance at the agency has impressed him.

"I believe you have what it takes to get this job done," Lieberman told Myers at the hearing Wednesday.

The Bush administration's effort to win her confirmation the first time stalled because lawmakers were concerned she lacked experience in immigration matters and the skills to manage the government's second-largest investigative force.

At that time, the administration was coping with the fallout from the slow response to Hurricane Katrina and questions about the job qualifications of Michael Brown, who headed the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Myers told senators she had made progress in improving the immigration agency's financial problems, increased enforcement against illegal immigrants who commit crimes and pursued employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Despite endorsing Myers, Lieberman said the agency suffers from low morale among workers and a lack of coordination among its numerous divisions.

It's not clear when the committee will vote on her nomination.

Of the committee members, only Sen. Claire McCaskill indicated she might vote against Myers. McCaskill, D-Mo., said the administration is not doing enough to crack down on businesses that employ illegal workers.

McCaskill challenged Myers to say how many employers, under her tenure, have faced criminal or administrative penalties for hiring illegal employees.

Myers did not provide a number and said law enforcement statistics do not break out records that way. She said businesses have paid $30 million in criminal fines and forfeitures this year, compared with just $600,000 in 2006.

"I agree with you on targeting egregious employers and getting U.S. attorneys to take these cases," Myers said. "The bottom line is that we are looking to change behavior."

But McCaskill said it was "outrageous" that Myers would appear at the hearing without having an answer.

Last year, there were 716 criminal arrests and 3,667 administrative arrests under immigration laws. The agency does not break out how many arrests are of employers charged with breaking the law.

After the hearing, McCaskill said she has sought the information on employers for months. She contends the agency refuses to disclose the number "because it's going to make them look really bad."

The agency would have to sort manually through every record to determine occupation, spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said.


On the Net:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement: http://www.ice.gov

I think this position needs some robust and heated competition.