http://dailysignal.com/2014/08/12/obama-administration-released-600-illegal-immigrants-criminal-convictions/Obama Administration Released Over 600 Illegal Immigrants With Criminal Convictions
Sharyl Attkisson August 12, 2014
More than 600 convicted criminals, including felons, were among thousands of illegal immigrants freed under the Obama administration in advance of 2013 budget cuts mandated under sequestration.
That’s according to a new report today from the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security.
The Obama administration released 2,226 immigrant detainees, 617 of whom had criminal convictions.
According to the IG’s report, at least two-dozen “aliens” were released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement even though they were in a “mandatory detention category.” (After an internal review, ICE later redetained them.)
The report provides a scathing portrayal of budget mismanagement and flawed processes at the highest levels inside the nation’s immigration enforcement agency.
Politically Motivated Decisions?
The atmosphere leading up to sequestration in early 2013 was politically charged. President Obama claimed the automatic budget cuts would hurt the economy, health care and emergency responders, and that federal prosecutors would have to “let criminals go.”
Republicans accused the administration of trying to create the appearance of a crisis by making high-profile cuts they claimed were unnecessary, such as halting White House public tours and mass-releasing illegal immigrants.
During the three weeks leading up to sequestration, from Feb. 9 to March 1, ICE released 2,226 immigrant detainees—617 of whom had criminal convictions. Approximately 1,450 were freed the last weekend before sequestration. The field offices that released the most criminal convicts include Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta and Chicago.
More than 600 convicted criminals, including felons, were among thousands of illegal immigrants freed under the Obama administration in advance of 2013 budget cuts mandated under sequestration.
That’s according to a new report today from the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security.
The Obama administration released 2,226 immigrant detainees, 617 of whom had criminal convictions.
According to the IG’s report, at least two-dozen “aliens” were released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement even though they were in a “mandatory detention category.” (After an internal review, ICE later redetained them.)
The report provides a scathing portrayal of budget mismanagement and flawed processes at the highest levels inside the nation’s immigration enforcement agency.
During the three weeks leading up to sequestration, from February 9 to March 1, ICE released 2,226 immigrant detainees. 617 of them, 28 percent, had criminal convictions. (Photo: Keith Myers/Kansas City Star/MCT/Newscom)
During the three weeks leading up to sequestration, from Feb. 9 to March 1, ICE released 2,226 immigrant detainees, including more than 600 with criminal convictions. (Photo: Keith Myers/Kansas City Star/MCT/Newscom)
Politically Motivated Decisions?
The atmosphere leading up to sequestration in early 2013 was politically charged. President Obama claimed the automatic budget cuts would hurt the economy, health care and emergency responders, and that federal prosecutors would have to “let criminals go.”
Republicans accused the administration of trying to create the appearance of a crisis by making high-profile cuts they claimed were unnecessary, such as halting White House public tours and mass-releasing illegal immigrants.
During the three weeks leading up to sequestration, from Feb. 9 to March 1, ICE released 2,226 immigrant detainees—617 of whom had criminal convictions. Approximately 1,450 were freed the last weekend before sequestration. The field offices that released the most criminal convicts include Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta and Chicago.
Chart: Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security Report, p. 37
Chart: Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security Report, p. 37
‘Sharp and Immediate Reduction’
It was Radha Sekar, ICE’s chief financial Officer, who decided on the “sharp and immediate reduction in detention bed space,” according to the IG. The report did not describe other officials or processes involved in approving and implementing Sekar’s decision.
The IG said that in the months prior to sequestration, ICE officials responsible for enforcement and removing aliens repeatedly asked Sekar for information on available funding but did not receive it. ICE was strapped by a stark increase in illegal immigrant apprehensions and had not developed contingency plans to address its budget shortfall.
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