3,700 illegal immigrant ‘Threat Level 1’ criminals released into U.S. by DHS

Most of the illegal immigrant criminals Homeland Security officials released from custody last year were discretionary, meaning the department could have kept them in detention but chose instead to let them onto the streets as their deportation cases moved through the system, according to new numbers from Congress.

Some of those released were the worst of the worst — more than 3,700 “Threat Level 1” criminals, who are deemed the top priority for deportation, were still released out into the community even as they waited for their immigration cases to be heard.

Homeland Security officials have implied their hands are tied by court rulings in many cases, but the numbers, obtained by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, showed 57 percent of the criminals released were by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s own choice, and they could have been kept instead.

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“Put aside the spin, and the fact is that over 17,000 of the criminal aliens released last year were released due to ICE discretion, representing 57 percent of the releases,” said Mr. Goodlatte. “The Obama administration’s lax enforcement policies are reckless and needlessly endanger our communities.”

In a statement to The Washington Times, ICE said it takes release decisions seriously and makes a judgment in each case. That holds true even for Threat Level 1 criminals.

“Not all Level 1 criminal aliens are subject to mandatory detention and thus may be eligible for bond,” the agency said, pointing to mitigating circumstances that can convince agents to release the most serious criminals.

Via: Washington Times

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The Obama Administration Was Handed a Huge Immigration Defeat. Here’s Why It Matters.

COMMENTARY BY

Hans von Spakovsky@HvonSpakovsky

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed the Obama administration a huge defeat this week.

It denied the government’s request for an emergency stay of a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of President Obama’s immigration amnesty program. This is not a decision on the merits of the lawsuit filed against the administration by the 26 states. But it certainly does not bode well for the administration’s case since in today’s 2-1 decision, the 5th Circuit concluded that “the government is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its appeal of the injunction.”

The panel also denied the government’s request to narrow the nationwide scope of the injunction so that it only applied to Texas and the other states in the lawsuit.

The court concluded that “partial implementation of [the president’s program] would undermine the constitutional imperative of ‘a uniform Rule of Naturalization’” contained in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, as well as “Congress’s instruction that ‘the immigration laws of the United States should be enforced vigorously and uniformly’” that is outlined in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

The 68-page opinion was written by Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee, who was joined by Jennifer Elrod, a George W. Bush appointee.

The dissenting judge, Stephen Higginson, an Obama appointee, argued that the underlying immigration issue is one that can only be decided “by the federal political branches” and is not an appropriate issue for “intervention and judicial fiat” by the courts.

Next up in the 5th Circuit will be the main event: Oral arguments over the substantive issue at stake, which is the constitutional and statutory merit of the injunction issued against President Obama’s plan to, in essence, legalize up to 5 million illegal aliens.

Via: Daily Signal

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COULTER: CURRENT IMMIGRATION POLICY ALL ABOUT IMPORTING DEM VOTERS

Columnist and author of “Adios, America” Ann Coulter argued current immigration policy is “100%” about trying to change the US ” into a direction that is more favorably disposed to vote for the Democrats” on Wednesday’s “Hannity” on the Fox News Channel.

Coulter began by praising Fusion anchor Jorge Ramos for debating her on his show and doing a “fantastic job” with the interview, something that she said no one else will do.

Coulter added, “One big part of this, is that this is the one debate cannot hear in America. You can hear both sides of the abortion debate, both sides of global warming, both sides of the Iraq War. You cannot hear both sides of the immigration debate, and I am just asking for a debate.”

She continued that her book was about exposing, “not only the media cover-up which is massive, but the government cover-up. Not giving us basic information about the people they are bringing into this country in order to change it into a direction that is more favorably disposed to vote for the Democrats.”

Coulter also stated that she thinks current immigration policy is “100%” about importing voters and said of Republicans who oppose closing the border, “They are looking at their short-term interests, they will win elections for the next five years and then it will be nothing but a Democratic country.

Via: Breitbart

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Why compassion for illegal immigration is wrong

Unchecked immigration is destroying our nation by undermining and overrunning the very institution that was built to harbor immigrants through the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution…

Don’t call it compassion when the president, elected officials or a candidate takes a stand that illegal immigrants deserve a pass to stay in this country and receive citizenship, let alone resident status. It is approval of America’s demise; an uncontrolled decimation of what the Founders established in the new world expressly to provide free exercise of faith, industry and speech.

What our forefathers pioneered was a new nation steeped in the acceptance of immigrants who wanted one thing—to escape the ancient order of tyranny. And they came from many countries to enjoy the newfound freedom that was available nowhere else in the world.

Today, the concept of true freedom to follow one’s individual faith and entrepreneurship is still only possible in one place, America, though that distinction is rapidly disappearing given the growth of theocracies and autocracies around the rest of the globe, and the importation of those liberty-crushing ideals on the back of illegal and state-sponsored immigration. The United States is also losing that exceptionalism due to the internal stresses brought about by fractional factionalists pressuring government for equality that is already in effect.

The reckless concept that special populations deserve special rights goes beyond the complete equality institutionalized by the Declaration of Independence from the beginning of this nation. It is creating privileged classes that oppress the majority of others who differ in opinions and lifestyles.

Why the new form of immigration is unacceptable is that it counters how and why America embraced immigrants over the generations. Immigration was encouraged to fill out the lands with productive individuals who purposefully left their past behind. They came with little or nothing, dreaming of a new life for their families, one that secured liberty from the old regime of oppression. My own forebears fled the pogroms of Russia, intent on basking in the freedom of America, not hauling along the tyranny of religious and antiquated European social prejudice.

Via: Canada Free Press

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How Immigrants Have Changed the Democratic Party

Hillary Clinton speaks with students about immigration during an event at Rancho High School in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

What a difference a disastrous midterm election makes. Before the 2014 vote, conventional wisdom in the Democratic Party still counseled political caution on immigration reform. Last summer, few were surprised when President Obama delayed announcing deportation relief until after the November vote; it was the kind of reluctant leadership the modern party has shown consistently on immigration. But less than a month into her campaign, Hillary Clinton struck a markedly different tone.

Clinton met with a group of undocumented students on May 5 and described an agenda that reflects just how much has changed since 2008. Young immigrants, in particular, are done waiting for politicians to catch up to the reality of their lives, and their rightful impatience fuels a movement that’s forcing the issue for Democrats and Republicans alike.

Clinton staged her meeting at the same Las Vegas high school where Obama announced his executive actions last November. These would grant legal status to as many as 5 million people, including some parents whose children were born as US citizens. A federal judge in Texas blocked those moves pending the outcome of a challenge to the president’s authority. Clinton said she not only supports Obama’s actions but would extend relief to parents of undocumented children, too. She called for the reunification of families already split up by deportation, questioned the safety of for-profit detention centers, and made a full-throated case for understanding immigration reform as a family-values issue. She stuck to the Democratic line that the first, best answer is a comprehensive reform law, but she was bullish about the authority she’d wield in the absence of congressional action.

Via: The Nation

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ICE Wasted $41.1 Million Transporting Detainees on Empty Flights

Poor management practices at the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) air program have potentially cost taxpayers $41.1 million by allowing for detainees to be transferred on nearly empty flights, according to a new audit.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) also found that the agency’s database for tracking the transfer of detainees is riddled with errors, leaving ICE unsure of a detainees’ criminal history, gang affiliation, or even gender.

ICE Air uses charter and commercial flights to transfer detainees to foreign countries or within the United States. In many instances, the audit found, the flights are less than half full.

“Although ICE Air met its mission by transporting 930,435 detainees over a 3-1/2 year period, it could have used its resources more effectively,” the audit said. “In fact, ICE Air may have missed opportunities to improve the program’s overall effectiveness even though it has identified some ways to reduce costs associated with detainee transportation.”

“The lack of reliable data limits the ability of management to make informed decisions regarding how many planes it needs to transport the current level of detainees, whether it should revise the frequency of its flights, and how to improve operations overall,” the OIG said.

“As a result, ICE Air operated charter flights with empty seats and could have realized cost savings of up to $41.1 million upon determining optimum flight capacity,” they said.

Via: WFB

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Obama’s Executive Amnesty Appears To Be In Trouble In The Fifth Circuit Court

Good news: The President’s recent action on immigration is still running into resistance in the courts.

On Friday, attorneys for the Obama administration argued before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. They were asking for a stay of a lower court judge’s ruling preventing the administration from moving forward with its executive amnesty designs.

It does not appear that they are going to win.

The three-judge panel consisted of two Republican appointees and one Democratic appointee. That’s a problem for President Obama because Republican-appointed judges tend to take the Constitution seriously.

One of the two Republican-appointed justices used Obama’s own statements against a Justice Department lawyer.

The sole Democratic appointee on the court noted that the President’s actions could discourage illegal immigrants from applying for programs that offer them work permits.

It looks like it’s going to be 2-1 in favor of the good guys when everything is said and done here.

The Constitutional principle of separation of powers survives for at least another day, the objections of the President notwithstanding.

Via Downtrend.com
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Destroying the GOP: How Immigration Turned California Blue

Republicans won California in every presidential election of the '50s, '60s, '70s, and '80s, except for the '64 Goldwater loss.  Now California has a third-world economy with one-party dominance.

The pro-amnesty Republicans should think clearly about what happened to the Golden State.

Today, California's GOP has withered to a small fraction of the state's registered voters.  Since the state began tracking party affiliation in 1922, Republicans have never had such a low share.  Republicans are now 29 percent of voters; Democrats are 44 percent.

But California did not go quietly.  In 1994, California voters, and governor Pete Wilson, tried to eliminate the incentives for illegal immigration with Proposition 187.  Prop 187 sought to prevent people from receiving social services or public education until they were verified as U.S. citizens.  Law enforcement agencies were to report illegals to state and federal authorities.

The proposition passed by a stunning 59%-to-41% margin in 1994.  However, by 1999, Prop 187 was invalidated by court rulings pushed by liberal organizations.  California is now known as Mexifornia.

How could the state that passed Prop 187 and had been a stalwart for Republican presidents have fallen so far?

As the graphs below show, demography was electoral destiny for California.  The top chart shows California's demographic changes (from 1960 to 2010), compared to the state's Electoral College votes.  The state's Electoral College votes went blue in tandem with the rising Hispanic population.

Sources: WSJ, 270towin.com

Via: American Thinker

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House GOP Objects To Obama Easing Immigration Rules For Terror Supporters

President Obama’s use of an executive directive to ease the rules for people trying to enter the United States or stay in the country even though they have given “limited” support to terrorists or terror groups is causing problems for Republicans working on immigration reform.

"President Obama should be protecting U.S. citizens rather than taking a chance on those who are aiding and abetting terrorist activity and putting Americans at greater risk," says Virginia GOP Rep. Robert Goodlatte, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and part of the GOP House leadership team working on immigration reform.

He and other Republican lawmakers argued that the administration is relaxing rules designed by Congress to protect the country from terrorists.

And Missouri GOP Sen. Roy Blunt on "Fox News Sunday" repeated the concerns of fellow Republicans and others about Obama repeatedly saying that "he can use his pen and his telephone" to work around Congress.

The change is one of Obama's first actions on immigration since he pledged during his State of the Union address last month to use more executive directives.

The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department now say that people considered to have provided "limited material support" to terrorists or terrorist groups are no longer automatically barred from the United States.

A post-Sept. 11 provision in immigrant law, known as terrorism-related inadmissibility grounds, had affected anyone considered to have given support to terror groups. With little exception, the provision has been applied rigidly to those trying to enter the U.S. and those already here but wanting to change their immigration status.

Via: Fox News

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Beware of Happy Talk on Immigration

Is immigration reform coming back from the dead?

Over Thanksgiving, both President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) have indicated that the issue —which has meant amnesty, by any other name—is alive on Capitol Hill.

Obama said last week that proponents of amnesty should be “thankful” for Boehner’s stated support for immigration reform and prompted laughter by comparing the complicated issue to a turkey that could be sliced up.

“It’s Thanksgiving. We can carve this bird into multiple pieces,” Obama quipped.

But the metaphor doesn’t really work.

It must have been the spirit of the season that prompted Boehner to praise Obama earlier in November for his sudden willingness—amid the wreckage of another “comprehensive” solution, Obamacare—to entertain a “piece-by-piece” process for immigration reform.

“The American people are skeptical of big, comprehensive bills, and frankly, they should be,” Boehner told reporters. “The only way to make sure immigration reform works this time is to address the complicated issues one step at a time.”

While all this talk sounds nice, the bird really wouldn’t be carved in the end. The House and Senate eventually would have to come together, and that’s where liberals are likely to reassemble the pieces, throw in some more, and try to stuff the whole monstrous turkey—including amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants—down Americans’ throats.

Via: The Foundry

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EXCLUSIVE - ICE AGENTS TO ZUCKERBERG: 'SUSPEND' IMMIGRATION LOBBYING, MEET WITH US

While billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to appear on ABC News's "This Week" on Sunday morning, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) National Council president Chris Crane is calling on Zuckerberg to suspend his amnesty lobbying efforts until he meets with law enforcement.

Crane, who represents about 7,000 ICE agents and support staff, made the call in a statement provided to Breitbart News exclusively. Crane referred to a letter he sent to CEOs pushing for amnesty, including Zuckerberg, in which he requested meetings with each of them to discuss the facts about immigration reform. Crane believes that Zuckerberg and those other CEOs are unaware of the effects pushing a bill like the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” immigration bill–or something like it from House GOP leadership–would have on the country’s safety.

Crane said in the statement, provided to Breitbart News on Saturday evening:

Earlier this month, we sent a letter to the major CEOs pushing a comprehensive immigration plan asking that they meet with ICE officers. One of those on the letter was Mark Zuckerberg, who has invested considerable time and money to get proposed legislation like the Gang of Eight bill signed into law. Mr. Zuckerberg ignored the letter and meeting request from ICE law enforcement and instead met with illegal immigrants. We therefore renew our request to meet with Mr. Zuckerberg and share firsthand the knowledge and experience of ICE officers and agents who witness every day the negative impact to public safety that occurs because ICE officers are prohibited from enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. The first question I would ask Mr. Zuckerberg would be: why did you support a bill, S. 744, which legalizes aliens with extensive criminal records, including sex offenders, gang members and other violent and dangerous criminal aliens? Until Mr. Zuckerberg meets with officers and learns the truth about our immigration system, I would respectfully suggest he suspend his lobbying activities.

It is unclear if ABC News's "This Week" anchors will ask Zuckerberg about his failure to respond to the law enforcement officials’ requests for a meeting. According to ABC News's website, the interview will be about his organization, FWD.us, and "his new push for immigration reform."

Via: Breitbart

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