By The Iowa Statesman
Last year, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) began investigating reports that criminals facing deportation were released from government custody and went on to commit other crimes. The results of that investigation have been troubling, to say the least.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently confirmed that 121 convicted criminals are now charged with homicide after being released from government custody instead of being deported. ICE also disclosed that 36,007 criminals were released from its custody in Fiscal Year 2013, and 1,000 of them have since been convicted again of additional crimes. Of those repeat offenders, 156 were released from ICE custody a second time, instead of being deported.
Grassley, who is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also asked immigration officials to provide the justification for releasing criminals in the process of deportation at the government’s discretion and the last known zip-codes of criminals who were released despite convictions for homicide or sex offenses. And now, he is joined by Immigration and the National Interest Subcommittee Chairman Jeff Sessions and Judiciary Committee member Jeff Flake in asking for more information surrounding cases in which foreign nationals with criminal records facing deportation were released from custody and went on to commit new crimes.
In a letter to ICE Assistant Secretary Sarah Saldaña, the senators are asking for more detail on the identity of the criminals, the location and nature of their crimes and the justification for their release.
When discussing his administration’s execution of immigration laws, President Obama said, “…we’re going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. Gang members, not a mom who’s working hard to provide for her kids.” But, the evidence from his administration points to the contrary in many instances.
A signed copy of the Senators’ inquiry can be found here.
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