National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers calls for new immigration policy to be rescinded
by Hugh Holub on Aug. 23, 2011, under border issues, immigration law reform, politicsPress Release from National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers:
National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers calls for new immigration policy to be rescinded.
Group says that policy will encourage further illegal immigration and damage respect for law by foreigners; says President has abandoned duty to law.
The administration announced last week that it would implement a new policy that will permit hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens to remain in the United States despite being in deportation proceedings already. This policy is clearly designed to sidestep congressional authority to regulate immigration. It should cause great concern amongst Americans who demand a secure border and desire only fair, even-handed enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws.
In a letter to selected senators, Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, cited public safety and clogged immigration court dockets as justification for the new policy. She asserts that DHS resources “must continue to be focused on our highest priorities” in order to avoid having resources diverted away from “individuals who pose a threat to public safety.”
Americans should understand that the policy has just granted amnesty in fact to approximately 300,000 illegal aliens already in deportation proceedings. The new policy means that they will be permitted to stay in the United States without fear of removal and will be given employment authorization valid for the foreseeable future. Past experience tells us that ultimately they will be given permanent residence and then citizenship. The policy promises similar haven to millions more. Those who are arrested in coming years will have a legitimate claim to this benefit if their “only” crime was entering the United States illegally or overstaying their visa. Thus, the incentive for following our nation’s legal immigration process has been effectively removed.
Aliens in deportation proceedings did not get there by happenstance. They have already had their circumstances individually reviewed by an officer who is trained and legally empowered to determine alienage. This official determined they were here in violation of the law with no apparent legal right to remain in the United States. After examining all factors, a deportation hearing before an Immigration Judge was determined to be in the best interest of the United States.
The administration would have the public believe that illegal aliens who pose a threat to public safety must wait in line behind those with lesser criminal records: that is absurd. The administration has the authority to move aliens deemed to be threats to an immediate hearing. If they were sincerely concerned about enforcing the law the immigration court backlog would have prompted a request for more Immigration Judges and resources to speed the process. Instead, the administration has made a transparent play for ethnic votes, thereby showing once more its contempt for law and the Constitutional requirement that the President see that the laws be faithfully executed.
This autocratic, misguided policy sends a clear message to foreigners contemplating an illegal entry—the agency charged with removing them does not intend to do so. History tells us that an increase in illegal immigration occurs any time our politicians even discuss a change in policy or law that makes it easier for illegal aliens to enter or remain in the United States. This policy will reverse the hard-fought gains in border security that have been accomplished at such a high cost. It also defies what the majority of Americans have made clear they want, and what has Congress has called for: a secure border and control of illegal immigration.
NAFBPO therefore demands that it be rescinded immediately. If the Obama administration chooses not to do so, we urge Congress to act quickly to rein in this failure of constitutional duty and limit its negative impacts upon the country.
August 23rd, 2011 on 8:37 am
must be nice to break our laws and then have us say, were sorry for arresting you, here, have a work permit, anything else we can give you to keep you happy?
August 23rd, 2011 on 9:12 am
They should be writing up articles of Impeachment on Obama !! This endangers our entire country,and It raises the white flag of surrender to all would be Illegals,and It basically says to them If you can make It to our country you are FREE !!! This CANNOT stand In a REPUBLIC !!!!!
August 23rd, 2011 on 9:16 am
Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) says she will hold hearings into whether the Obama administration’s new deportation policy violates the Constitution.
In a statement, Miller, who chairs a key House border security subcommittee, declared that the new policy, in which the administration will focus deportation efforts on illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds over other illegals, “is nothing more than an administrative amnesty; one that ignores our laws and provides a pass to the countless individuals who are in the nation illegally.”
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R), who last year signed one of the toughest illegal immigration laws in the nation, also referred to the plan as “backdoor amnesty.”
Miller said that the administration’s decision breaks a promise made last year by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who said at the time that her agency would not “grant deferred action or humanitarian parole to the Nation’s entire illegal immigrant population or large classes of such population.”
Here’s Miller’s reaction to that statement:
“The policy announced by DHS last week and the explanation Secretary Napolitano made in her response one year ago clearly conflict. It once again seems clear that this Administration fully intends to travel down the road of amnesty which has failed in the past to stop the flow of illegal immigration and made our borders less secure. I believe that this action could pose an imminent threat to our efforts to gain operational control of our borders and requires vigorous oversight. The Administration should be put on notice that I intend to call a hearing in the very near future to exercise the appropriate oversight function of Congress and to make certain we are doing everything in our power to enforce the laws and secure our borders.”
August 24th, 2011 on 10:59 am
Again our country is at risk under this administration. Last week it was allowing illegal the right to work – our daughter has been out of work for 3 years and still cannot find a job. She is a fourth generation American who went back to college for an additional certification, pays her taxes, obeys all laws, contributes positively to society and she cannot find a position! Now our “Commander in Chief” sees fit to turn his back on the laws of our country and allow more illegals into our system.
Where is the justice?
August 27th, 2011 on 9:28 am
Make no mistake, this tyrannical government has declared war on its people and torn up our constitution.
Maybe some of you guys think illegal alien foreigners waving red Marxist war flags isn’t that big a deal, but it’s an act of war right in our faces. Luckily for these Marxist illegals they haven’t done it directly in front of me yet–but when they do it’s fucking lights out for them.
August 27th, 2011 on 10:04 am
One thing I’ve never heard from this President nor the last several, if they were truly serious about illegal immigration. And that is to get on TV and tell the world we will no loger support the rejects they send us. We will cut of all benfits, eliminate birthright citizenship, make E-verifty mandatory for all businesses and bring home our military to line the borders. Furthermore, if we hear any complaining, whining, marching or calling on the anti-American ACLU for help, all funds for the complaining counry will stop immediately. Of course that won’t stop the invasion but wouldn’t it be great to have a President stand up for this country instead of pandering to third world hellholes?
August 28th, 2011 on 10:13 pm
I’ll take undocumented migrants over the sorts who make comments like these any day.