A Review of the President’s Executive Actions on Immigration

PURPOSE:

• To examine the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) implementation of the President’s executive actions on immigration.
• To review the approval of benefits to aliens unlawfully present in the United States, despite a federal district court judge’s injunction.
• This hearing continues a series of discussions the Oversight Committee has conducted this year examining the impact of the President’s executive actions on immigration. Previous hearings were held Feb. 12, Feb. 25, March 17, and March 19.

BACKGROUND:

• On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions related to immigration.
• The President’s executive actions instructed the DHS Secretary to allow aliens to apply for deferred action status, which, if granted, gives protection from deportation and authorization to work legally in the United States. Those aliens will then be eligible to obtain work authorization, Social Security numbers, and other benefits.
• On February 16, 2015, a federal judge blocked the Administration’s executive action deferring deportation of undocumented parents of American citizens and permanent legal residents. The Administration disclosed that after this injunction it had subsequently issued 2,000 three-year work authorizations.
• In May 2015, the DHS Inspector General issued a report that stated the Department does not collect and analyze on the use of prosecutorial discretion to fully assess immigration enforcement activities and develop future policy.