Immigration Enforcement Dramatically Scaled-Back under Obama Administration

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) released a first of its kind, comprehensive report detailing the numerous areas where the Obama administration has deliberately weakened the ability of the United States to enforce its immigration laws.

The Road to Amnesty provides an in-depth examination of the Obama administration's record on immigration policy and enforcement during its first year in office. Refuting Secretary Napolitano's claims of more a pragmatic approach to immigration enforcement, The Road to Amnesty shows that effective enforcement strategies have been systematically dismantled. Instead the administration has vigorously pursued its political goal of a mass illegal alien amnesty.

Among the key findings of The Road to Amnesty are:

• Effective worksite enforcement - including the removal of illegal workers and prosecution of employers - has been gutted. This strategy has been replaced by paperwork audits that result in minor penalties or inconveniences to employers, while illegal workers are allowed to remain in the country.
• The effective federal/local immigration enforcement program known as 287(g) has been limited to the removal of dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
• Implementation of E-Verify protections for American workers was repeatedly delayed, despite soaring unemployment. The administration refused to back a permanent extension of the program.
• The administration undermined the REAL ID Act, which would make American identity documents more secure, and is aggressively advocating that Congress replace it with the much weaker PASS ID bill. REAL ID enacted the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

"After nearly a year in office, it is clear that enforcement of U.S. immigration laws is not a goal of the Obama administration," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "On the contrary, their actions are all geared toward building pressure for a mass illegal alien amnesty program.

"The administration has pursued its amnesty agenda at great harm to American workers and great expense to American taxpayers," Stein continued. "At a time of skyrocketing unemployment and huge government deficits at all levels, the administration has consistently placed the interests of illegal aliens and their advocates ahead of those of the American people.

"Based on its record so far, there is little reason for the American people to have any confidence that promises of future enforcement in exchange for mass amnesty would be fulfilled, as the administration promotes its version of an immigration overhaul in 2010," concluded Stein.

The Road to Amnesty is available at www.fairus.org.

About FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE FAIR

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.fairus.org