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Rep. Bob Goodlatte, (R-Va.), on the Dept. of Homeland Security releasing illegal immigrant detainees due to sequestration.
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Homeland Security secretary Janet and a polish.
Vowing to release more illegal immigrants because of the question demands of the sequester.
But secretary says it's only several hundred.
Being released.
Career officials made the decision that there were some very.
What I would call very low level low risk detainees that could be put into a supervised release program and that's what happened.
And -- -- to continue to do that several hundred are related to sequester but it wasn't thousands.
The House Judiciary Committee however says they've -- And immigration and customs enforcement document that shows plans to release up to 5000.
Illegal immigrants joining us now is the chairman of -- committee Judiciary Committee chairman congressman -- got a lot of Virginia good to have you with -- mr.
chairman.
Did you -- you Lou today.
The effect here is that the -- the secretary is misrepresenting the reality of which she is apparently keenly aware since it's originating with.
-- -- -- -- -- You bet her her department's documents -- not only.
That they intend to release up to 5000 or more.
But also that this was planned ahead of time that they knew this going in and as result.
It calls into question whether this was clearly done.
In order to try to intimidate to.
Engage in scare tactic to the American people to convince them that -- sequestration was bad.
And that they should blame other people rather than take responsibility for doing the right thing and that is to manage.
Spending cuts that are needed in a responsible way.
In fact when she says -- these are low level folks from these -- people engaged in fraud.
Theft have been convicted and people -- -- more serious crimes who have not been tried yet and they're releasing them as well.
Yeah so it's a it's a pretty serious.
Undertaking that they're doing.
Up for people who.
Are not lawfully in the country begin with have committed additional crimes and should be deported from the country not released on our streets to commit more crimes.
-- and of course this does nothing more than compound there the complexities of what you can all -- contended is the very complex issue.
Of illegal immigration border security and how to best resolve it.
This is -- to be at least peculiar that the administration would make your job.
And even even more difficult by doing things like this as well as of course the obvious issue of opening.
Open society being vulnerable through all of the -- that you're talking about being released.
While -- regular aptly writes a bad idea that equipment to put it on top of a very legitimate effort going on in both the house and the senate.
To try to solve this very difficult problem of immigration reform both legal and illegal immigration reform.
When the president says.
Pass a bill or I'm gonna demand that you pass my bill that kind of thing wasn't well received a couple weeks ago when he did that.
Now.
Two.
Suggest to the American people that a way to handle sequestration is to release criminal aliens onto our streets.
Makes it very difficult to win the argument that we can do immigration reform and make sure that this doesn't occur again in terms of millions of people coming into our country illegally.
How do you convince them of that -- the administration's got to carry out the laws and they're not carrying out the laws in fact they're doing the worst thing they're releasing the people that are least desirable to have the United States back on the streets commit crimes.
It's not good is not representative of the average person that we're trying to address.
In this problem their high relating to the worst people and saying -- we're we're finally those people being out on the streets of our country.
-- is a very very bad situation Jeb Bush the other day telling him that well actually yesterday telling The Today Show.
That.
And effectively and in his new book.
That he is opposed to citizenship for illegal immigrants is that helpful.
Or does that and complexities to your job is well Hologic this year.
I think -- -- Responsible look at the question that we have of all of the members of the house Republicans and Democrats and that is.
Where is that sweet spot between deportation.
And citizenship.
Where we can bring people out of the shadows not criminals they should go home but.
People who have come here illegal and not committed other crimes.
They should have some kind of -- to come out from the shadows and live a a more open existence pay taxes be more responsible members.
Of the community and it doesn't have to be citizenship it could be something else so I think it was very -- to see.
Former governor bush take that position and we welcome hearing his thoughts as well as others and he had previously been for half way to citizenship that's called.
Very quickly and we've got to run -- run over congressman but if you do you believe that the house is gonna preserve.
Regular order that is have opened hearings and go to the -- financial -- normal process traditional process of the house.
It is so important that we do that on all of our legislation but critically important for immigration because most members of congress.
Don't know a lot about this issue we need to bring them forward educate them about it we're doing that would briefing sessions but also holding.
-- held four hearings on immigration we're gonna hold more and try to bring this through regular order that's the way to build support.
From the bottom up and actually pass something in the senate tried to do -- the other way six years ago.
It collapsed when the public found out what was in the bill some some might suggest that they are attempting -- and with all the best of intentions now.
With their bipartisan gang of eight but it's good to know that well you're -- sounds like the American way but it that -- of mister chairman.
We think won't we -- We we welcome the work of the gang of eight and there's a group in the housing that too but once they produce that it should then be worked through regular order to see what -- those ideas could work and what might need to have some changes made it.
Congressman is always -- -- we've thank you mr.
chairman thank to a Fargo.
