Inhofe Pushes for More Details on Release of Illegal Immigrants

Inhofe Pushes for More Details on Release of Illegal Immigrants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 18, 2013

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) is an original cosponsor of amendment 72 to the Senate Continuing Resolution announced Thursday that would require the Department of Homeland Security to provide Congress with information about the illegal immigrants who are being released due to the President’s sequestration budget cuts. Sen. Inhofe worked closely with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in the drafting of the amendment, which is also cosponsored by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and by Sens. David Vitter (R-La.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Dan Coats (R-Ind.).

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is charged with doing exactly what its name implies, enforcing the nation’s immigration laws,” said Inhofe. “The Obama Administration’s decision to release thousands of illegal immigrants who were caught breaking these laws is irresponsible and goes against the purpose of this agency. I appreciate Sen. Grassley for working closely with me on drafting this amendment that would require ICE to explain who was released and the offenses they committed. Americans deserve accountability when it comes to securing our borders and law-abiding immigrants deserve that respect.”

Specifically, the amendment would require Immigration Customs and Enforcement to report to the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees about how the department will manage its budget in order to maintain the 34,000 detention beds authorized by Congress. The amendment also requires Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to provide information on the illegal immigrants released, the conviction or charge for which they were detained, their immigration status, whether they had an existing order of deportation, and the terms of release.

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