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National ICE Council President Chris Crane on the lawsuit filed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
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Senator Jeff Sessions has called for the resignation of immigration and customs enforcement director John Morton -- says there can be no comprehensive immigration reform.
Until -- stepped down.
This call for resignation comes as the federal judge clears a lawsuit filed by ice agents against Morton and Homeland Security director -- Apollo trying to.
EA just claimed this is the background here the Obama administration is forced agents to violate federal law by halting the arrest of most illegal immigrants.
-- -- -- -- -- We've become the enemy and this administration not the lawbreakers.
Our own officers are now the enemy.
Joining us is Chris -- Chris is president of national immigration customs enforcement counsel representing more than 7000 ice agents and employees.
Welcome -- press.
Thanks story thanks for having -- on.
So this really amounts to the bottom line we'll start with the headline is that -- -- suing the government to allow you to enforce the law.
Correct.
That that's absolutely correct and it's disappointing that -- came to this point but that's -- -- that we believe strongly in what we're doing we believe in the post that we took we've we believe in the law of the land.
And we're gonna see this thing through to the end and we're looking forward to it moving forward.
Give us a sense of what that confusion is about and why you filed -- -- the federal government in the first place for example if one of your agents.
Is.
On the job on.
You know -- on duty and sees a car driving erratically pulled over the driver and -- booze.
Seized drugs and your agent finds that person is illegal.
If that driver basically says well I eight I you know I I passed my GE.
The ice agent house cannot apprehend that driver and I understand his -- -- -- is ridiculous sounding as fat.
No it's it's a lot more complicated than that -- it's it's.
I will say first of all that.
It's kind of been a roller coaster for us during the entire Obama administration on day to day basis kind of -- build the rules that we have to follow each day have have been different pretty much every single day.
And right now what we have -- so much confusion out in the field that.
Different offices from from state to state or city to city are literally doing.
Different -- so nobody really knows what's going on but now -- example of -- so you know we can really put ourselves in your shoes.
Absolutely I mean of a better example might be and and immigration agents that's actually working in jail or prison.
Walks into a jail -- encounters an illegal alien that illegal aliens been arrested for.
Non criminal charges by another law enforcement agency at that point without a conviction that individual might tell and it and immigration agent hey.
I qualify for one of these benefits under the Obama administration plan.
And there's really nothing we can do about it at that point we -- -- really just have to turn around and walk away from that individual and take their word.
Instead of what we we would've previously done in the past does is take that person and -- conduct custody.
You know do the -- -- Elan and doesn't have to.
Prove.
He or she has -- -- -- That's correct Dan and DHS is command said that's not true.
But what's actually happening on the field is exactly that and that the only point I think that that -- in May be required.
To prove anything is when they file an application with citizenship and immigration services to -- to actually receive have been a -- benefit.
But in terms of our officers -- -- -- -- in the field.
Yes we pretty much have to take their word for.
Fourth that they apply for one of these programs just simply put it fair to say that guys are getting off.
Absolutely -- -- there's no two ways about it we have folks that we know and our hearts from our experience and and in working these jobs for so long that they're gang members and everything else but.
Without any absolute proof there's nothing that that we can do about it so people that we absolutely believe -- public threat.
The previously -- we was taken into custody were now forced released so.
Immigration and customs enforcement agents are actually at risk of losing their jobs if they don't follow these new federal rules.
That's correct and we we actually had one officer that was suspended for three days.
For arresting an illegal alien.
The other officers have been sitting on -- on.
Fugitive.
Vehicle and individual cannot to get in that vehicle they detain that individual.
And when they found out that the guy hadn't had a driver's license for very long time and has been arrested on multiple occasions for driving without a driver's license they took him into custody.
And when they did so.
That officer was placed or or threatened with suspension.
For arresting that individual who also was you know in the country illegally.
You had -- -- victory in court your lawsuit will be heard it will go ahead what is the next step how we continue your fight.
Well that's actually for our attorney -- -- -- who was on the show last night to answer those questions so apologize that'll have him address those questions.
I do think it's interesting that you're the union leader -- representing these agents.
-- the AF LCI Overture -- cut.
White House official really.
Won't consults you obviously immigration reform front -- center of the candidates senators bipartisan senators the president -- coming up his post on immigration reform.
Nobody is really asking you in your -- -- -- here in you know your view on it.
Yet they don't talk to immigration and customs enforcement employees officers and agents to do the job as well as are prosecuting attorneys.
They don't talk to Border Patrol agents.
And they're not.
Warning to hear our voice I guess I'm within the administration or within the AFL CIO.
And we believe and I think most Americans would agree that we can avoid.
A lot of the pitfalls a lot of the problems we've had in the past with -- immigration policies if we would bring in the front line troops to do the jobs not the managers or the political appointees who do what they're told or say what they're told.
But the people who actually do the jobs just to give some insight to our lawmakers when they sit down to make these laws we think that's critically important and we hope to see that happen.
Are you encouraged or discouraged with what you heard this week from Washington.
Well I'd have to say that I'm a little bit.
On the discourage side I mean we're absolutely open to hearing what any of our lawmakers are political leaders have to put on the table.
But you know for us -- ice just as one example and I read through the bipartisan committee.
Framework.
There was no mention.
Of immigration and customs enforcement whatsoever.
Are you really had to look hard to see any kind of mentioned on on the interior enforcement.
Of our laws you know we we basically got a handful.
Of ice agents that are primarily working jails and prisons around the country.
And deporting and removing about 400000.
Individuals that are coming out of jails and prisons I mean that's a red flag.
That we have a serious.
Criminal alien problem on the interior of our country.
I mean I think it's an indicator that we probably have millions right and it has -- -- estimate currently it is not our.
We continue to follow your story there with ice and check back with you periodically is you continue.
Your -- Chris Crane is the president of the national ice council thanks again.
Thank you.
