Aderholt Questions Assistant Secretary Morton on FY13 Immigration and Customs Enforcement Budget

Aderholt Questions Assistant Secretary Morton on FY13 Immigration and Customs Enforcement Budget
Demands Answers on Secure Communities, Detention Beds and Administration’s Failure to Enforce Nation’s Immigration Laws

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) John Morton testified before the Subcommittee regarding ICE’s priorities and FY13 budget request.

“Understanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s role is vital to our nation’s security and public safety, this Subcommittee has made immigration enforcement funding a clear priority,” said Aderholt. “The proof is in the dollars provided above and beyond past year’s requests, bolstering funding for frontline operations, detention bed space and the Secure Communities program to ensure ICE has the tools to enforce the laws of the land. Despite continued support from this Subcommittee, the Administration is disguising their clear political agenda to diminish immigration enforcement, by claiming ‘limited resources’ as an excuse to ignore the law.”

“Despite heated discourse over immigration enforcement and reform policy, this Subcommittee has not been bogged down with politics. Instead we have focused on the resources needed to enforce the letter of the law and meet ICE’s vital missions. The problem is clearly not a lack of funding, but rather a lack of will in enforcing the law and utilizing the resources this Subcommittee has provided.”

“Last year we provided funding for 34,000 detention beds, the highest level in history, but despite the expansion of Secure Communities into new jurisdictions as well as a large known illegal population, ICE has failed to fill those beds. Last year the Administration committed resources to the abuse of prosecutorial direction and interference in immigration proceedings. Last year this Subcommittee also provided funding for the expansion of the Secure Communities program, but despite plenty of dollars the program is being needlessly and politically delayed in my home state of Alabama.”

“ICE has been giving the money to enforce the immigration laws of the land. Now it is time for ICE to do its job. Not enforcing the law puts lives in jeopardy and cannot be tolerated,” concluded Aderholt.

Aderholt currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the powerful House Appropriations Committee, is a member of the Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science; and Agriculture Subcommittees, and also serves on the Helsinki Commission.

For more information about Aderholt’s work in Congress visit www.aderholt.house.gov.