Washington, D.C. – After a recent press report, the House Judiciary Committee has learned that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last September deliberately released a suspected child rapist who is now on the loose. Although Amado Espinosa-Ramirez was charged with 42 counts of predatory sexual acts, including sexual endangerment of a family member under 13, ICE issued a statement claiming he was released on an ankle bracelet pending a hearing before an immigration judge because he had “no prior criminal convictions, no prior immigration violations, and is the parent of a U.S. citizen child.” But Espinosa-Ramirez failed to appear for a hearing in federal immigration court and has been a fugitive ever since.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below.
Chairman Smith: “It’s insulting to Americans that ICE deliberately released a criminal immigrant suspected of multiple counts of child rape back onto our streets. This reckless decision is ultimately a failure of the Obama administration’s lax immigration policies. And it shows that this Administration is willing to put illegal and criminal immigrants ahead of the safety of our children.
“Obama administration officials have made clear that it is not their priority to deport and detain all illegal and criminal immigrants. The Administration has issued new deportation guidelines that could allow potentially millions of illegal immigrants remain in the U.S. without a vote of Congress. And the President’s budget slashes funding for detention space and instead funds programs that release illegal and criminal immigrants into our communities.
“This Administration cannot be trusted when it comes to full enforcement of our immigration laws. That’s why the House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the Department of Homeland Security last November for a list of illegal and criminal immigrants intentionally released by ICE. As part of the Committee’s oversight responsibility, this data will be cross-checked to see if those released have gone on to commit more crimes. We must ensure this Administration enforces all immigration laws and puts the interests of Americans first.”
Background: On November 4, 2011, the Immigration Subcommittee issued a subpoena to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a list of illegal and criminal immigrants that have been brought to the attention of ICE but have not been detained or placed in removal proceedings by the agency. This information was originally requested by Chairman Smith in August 2011.
Background: On November 4, 2011, the Immigration Subcommittee issued a subpoena to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a list of illegal and criminal immigrants that have been brought to the attention of ICE but have not been detained or placed in removal proceedings by the agency. This information was originally requested by Chairman Smith in August 2011.
Specifically, the Subcommittee requested names, fingerprint identification numbers, and alien registration numbers of aliens encountered but not taken into custody or processed for removal by ICE. Four months after the original request, DHS produced documents to the House Judiciary Committee that are compliant with the Immigration Subcommittee’s subpoena.
The information will be cross-checked to see if illegal and criminal immigrants intentionally released by ICE have gone on to commit more crimes. This data will be used to inform Congress on the problem of criminal immigrants and their effect on public safety.
No comments:
Post a Comment