Sessions On ICE Lawsuit Against Admin: Agents' Jobs Under Threat For Upholding Law, Protecting Public
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: August 23, 2012
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL),
a senior member of the
Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding a
lawsuit filed today by frontlines officers for U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, including Chris Crane, President of the ICE
officers' union. The lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano and ICE Director John Morton charges that the Obama
Administration's new deferred action and prosecutorial discretion
directive "commands ICE officers to violate their oaths to uphold and
support federal law":
"It
is a sad day when our nation's law enforcement officers
are left with no recourse but to file suit against the Administration
and its political appointees. America was poised to make great progress
on immigration enforcement--after Congress was forced into action by the
American public--but the President's unilateral
pursuit of far-reaching amnesty has not only undermined this progress
but reversed it. The men and women who swore an oath to uphold the law
and protect the public safety are now forced to ignore the law if they
are to remain secure in their jobs. We already
know of one officer who faces suspension for arresting a 35-year old
illegal alien with multiple misdemeanor violations and apparent ties to a
fugitive. Understandably, we are told agent morale has never been
worse.
While
the Administration informs the public that its policies
are narrow in scope and limited in application, the truth is that
effective enforcement has been made nearly impossible. Those serving on
the front lines are being forced to release offenders who pose a clear
threat to public safety. They see the violence,
the chaos, and the lawlessness on a daily basis.
All
Americans, immigrant and native born, will have a better
future if America remains unique among nations for the special reverence
it places in the rule of law. We do no service to this nation and those
seeking a better future by eroding the values that have made us great.
It is time to end the lawlessness, not surrender
to it. Only then can we move forward together to tackle and solve these
complex problems in a united and principled fashion."
NOTE:
Nearly three weeks ago, Sessions sent a letter to ICE
Director Morton demanding to know why an ICE agent faces suspension for
seeking judicial proceedings for an illegal alien who was apprehended in
connection with a fugitive investigation, and later found to have at
least 10 prior traffic conventions, including
driving without a license. His superiors released the apprehended alien
over the officer's public safety concerns. To date, Morton has failed to
respond or provide any information about this controversial case. To
view Sessions' letter, please
click
here.
