A Review of the Department of Homeland Security’s Policies and Procedures for the Apprehension, Detention, and Release of Non-Citizens Unlawfully Present in the United States-Part II

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing titled “A Review of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Policies and Procedures for the Apprehension, Detention, and Release of Non-Citizens Unlawfully Present in the United States (Part II).”

The Committee will continue a discussion that began on February 25, 2015, during a joint subcommittee hearing where compelling testimony was given from two family members of from crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

BACKGROUND:

• According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 36,007 criminal non-citizens unlawfully present in the United Stated were released in FY 2013. Over 5,000 of those individuals went on to commit subsequent crimes. A thousand of those individuals have already been reconvicted.
• During his Nov. 20, 2014 national address, President Obama stated, “If you’re a criminal, you’ll be deported… we’ll prioritize just like law enforcement does every day.”
• On November 20, 2014, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a memorandum that contained new policies for the apprehension, detention, and removal of undocumented immigrants.
• ICE Director Sarah Saldana will testify before the House Oversight Committee for the first time since being confirmed by the Senate last year.