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Sen. Cornyn Confronts Napolitano Over ‘Backdoor Amnesty’ (No Deporting of Criminal Illegals)
Commentary ^ | 6/29/2011 | Alana Goodman

Posted on 06/29/2011 2:31:02 PM PDT by mojito

During a hearing on the DREAM Act today, Sen. John Cornyn confronted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about whether her agency directed its attorneys to dismiss the deportation cases of illegal immigrants who had been convicted of crimes.

The exchange was prompted by a Houston Chronicle investigation yesterday, which revealed that DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials encouraged attorneys to seek dismissals for dozens of illegal immigrants who had been convicted of criminal acts ranging from sexual assault, kidnapping, assault, theft, drug dealing and DUIs.

“In 2010, I wrote you a letter and asked you for details with regard to this program,” said Cornyn. “In response, the Department of Homeland Security assured me that a directive instructing ICE attorneys to seek dismissals of certain classes of criminal aliens ‘does not exist.’”

The senator asked Napolitano whether she could “explain the apparent discrepancy between the existence of this memo and what the Houston Chronicle reported on Monday?”

Napolitano denied her office was involved in a cover-up, arguing that the Houston ICE field office that instructed its attorneys to seek dismissals for these illegal immigrants had “misconstrued” the orders given by the ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“The plain fact of the matter is that a miscommunication occurred at the regional level in one of 26 offices,” she said.

But Napolitano’s response doesn’t completely explain the inconsistency. As the Chronicle reported, after the chief counsel of the Houston office gave the instructions to his attorneys, he forwarded the email to ICE headquarters. ICE officials replied with an email praising the chief counsel’s decision and asking him to share his strategies with other offices.

Napolitano has a lot more to answer for, and it sounds like at least one senator plans to pursue an investigation.

“When an agency not only misleads the public and Congress, but also attempts to block public information, merely citing an unfortunate ‘miscommunication’ is not a good enough explanation for the American people,” Cornyn said in a press statement after the hearing. “I intend to pursue whatever means necessary to get to the bottom of this and shine light on this wrongheaded policy.”


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; Mexico; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: aliens; backdooramnesty; democratvoters; dhs; napolitano
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My blood boils when I read stuff like this.

This woman needs to be impeached or resign.

1 posted on 06/29/2011 2:31:13 PM PDT by mojito
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To: mojito

We used to hang our traitors.


2 posted on 06/29/2011 2:34:49 PM PDT by Noumenon ("One man with courage is a majority." - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: mojito

“Enforce the law.”

Now THAT would be a memo that would be hard to “misconstrue”.


3 posted on 06/29/2011 2:35:04 PM PDT by SJSAMPLE
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To: mojito
From the Houston Chronicle story:

“Homeland Security officials misled the public and Congress last year in an effort to downplay a wave of immigration case dismissals in Houston and other cities amid accusations that they had created a “back-door amnesty,” newly released records show.

The records, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, include a series of internal memos from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's chief counsel in Houston dated last August ordering attorneys to review all new, incoming cases and thousands already pending on the immigration court docket and to file paperwork to dismiss any that did not meet the agency's “top priorities.” (Read the documents provided by the federal officials in response to a FOIA request here.)

The secretive review process resulted in the dismissal of hundreds of cases in Houston, most of them involving illegal immigrants who had lived in the United States for years without committing serious crimes.

A string of emails shows the dismissals had the blessings of top attorneys at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C..."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/7627737.html#ixzz1QhbaTZHs

4 posted on 06/29/2011 2:36:38 PM PDT by mojito
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To: mojito

We are surrounded by traitors to the Republic!


5 posted on 06/29/2011 2:37:37 PM PDT by Cheetahcat ( November 4 2008 ,A date that will live in Infamy.)
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To: mojito
Yes, I saw this in the Chronicle yesterday and was quite surprised that not only were they covering it, it was front-page news.

Even a stopped clock...

6 posted on 06/29/2011 2:40:31 PM PDT by Allegra (Hey! Stop looking at my tagline like that.)
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To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 3pools; 3rdcanyon; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; 7.62 x 51mm; ..

Ping!


7 posted on 06/29/2011 2:44:51 PM PDT by HiJinx (Old Cold Warrior)
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To: mojito
“I intend to pursue whatever means necessary to get to the bottom of this and shine light on this wrongheaded policy.”

And then what?

We've gotten to the bottom of lots of stuff, and shined lots of light on wrongheaded policies. And still the destruction continues. Enough "confronting".

There is no try. Do, or do not.
8 posted on 06/29/2011 2:46:11 PM PDT by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
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To: LearsFool

They intend to carry out the plan as instituted by the won, and the republican congress will get really, really, really, really mad.

Beyond that nothing will happen.


9 posted on 06/29/2011 2:51:31 PM PDT by itsahoot (I Stand with Sarah Palin)
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To: LearsFool

The good but obsolete Senator needs to get with the program and realize that there is only one branch of government now, namely the White House, and they will “do good things” for the people, unencumbered by antiquated notions of constitutional legality or authority.


10 posted on 06/29/2011 2:51:44 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: mojito

Yes, it’s time to impeach her.


11 posted on 06/29/2011 3:11:29 PM PDT by expatpat
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To: martin_fierro; Perdogg; JoeProBono; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; ...

“Napolitano” and “backdoor” in the same sentence, not a great idea. But thanks mojito.


12 posted on 06/29/2011 3:19:34 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's the Obamacare, stupid! -- Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
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To: mojito

Impeach, try in court, then JAIL her.


13 posted on 06/29/2011 3:25:55 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: mojito

Sen. Cornyn Confronts Napolitano Over ‘Backdoor Amnesty’

Really? Was she awake when this happened? Hard to imagine Cornyn saying anything loud enough for one of the jug-eared moron’s “rat pack” to hear it...


14 posted on 06/29/2011 3:35:45 PM PDT by Common Sense 101
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To: Noumenon

Seems we will again if the economy collapses or this election is canceled ...

Americans who truly love this country are tired of polidiots and presstitutes reindeer games IMO. Really Really tired...

Hope yer well....stay safe.


15 posted on 06/29/2011 3:37:42 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: Cheetahcat
We are surrounded by traitors to the Republic!

That ain't even half of it. I would say that at least 80% of all of Washington are corrupt dirt bags.

16 posted on 06/29/2011 3:47:52 PM PDT by Logical me
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To: Squantos

I can’t begin to tell you how tired I am of this crap and the monsters who are working to destroy this formerly great Republic. They’re like willful idiots who are busy boring holes in our lifeboat. We’ve asked them nicely to stop. They won’t. There will be only one way to make them stop.

I’m doing OK. Probably better than I deserve but not as much as I’d like. But that’s life. Just sittin’ on the tarmac, engines idling, waiting for the call.

Hope you and yours are doing well, also.


17 posted on 06/29/2011 4:01:37 PM PDT by Noumenon ("One man with courage is a majority." - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: mojito

Illegal alien AND a convicted criminal. Twice a DemocRat voter.


18 posted on 06/29/2011 4:48:25 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
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To: Noumenon

I remember cockpit alerts well....scary times an we’re back in same hole. Except this time the enemy is in the wire.

All good here as well.... Hope your 4th of July is restful an quiet shy of celebration of what we still have.

And its endangered if we can’t educate the voters around us.

Nite...


19 posted on 06/29/2011 4:52:24 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
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To: SJSAMPLE

“take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

So requires our constitution.

Why doesn’t Sen.Cronyn bring this up?


20 posted on 06/29/2011 4:56:05 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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