FAIR: Administration's Amnesty for Illegal Aliens Officially Underway

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirm that the Obama administration has already begun to implement a backdoor amnesty program for millions of illegal aliens in the United States. Homeland Security officials at the highest levels have already begun training ICE agents on how to administratively close cases and ICE attorneys will immediately begin reviewing incoming deportation cases to determine whether to grant amnesty to illegal aliens.  The process of dismissing pending deportation cases, which do not meet Homeland Security's definition of a "high priority," will begin in December. These latest moves demonstrate the consolidation of all immigration enforcement decisions in the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the architect of the administration's amnesty policy.

"The three memos issued today erase any doubt that the administration is circumventing Congress and granting de facto amnesty to broad categories of illegal aliens, dropping hundreds of thousands of pending cases and refusing to process incoming cases," charged Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). "The memos also reveal that the administration is carefully orchestrating the work of various federal agencies to ensure that nothing interferes with its plan to grant amnesty and work authorization to illegal aliens."

Ignoring the law, congressional intent, and the will of the American people, the administration is executing this amnesty-by-decree under the guise of "prosecutorial discretion." The memos indicate that the "review" of 300,000 pending deportation cases and every single incoming case is moving full-steam ahead. Under the policies now being implemented, illegal aliens who have not committed violent crimes, and do not otherwise pose a security threat to the United States, will be allowed to remain in the country and will likely be granted authorization to work.

Not only do today's memos reveal a disdain for Congress and the rule of law, they also demonstrate a complete mis-appropriation of taxpayer dollars by reallocating funds Congress has appropriated for immigration enforcement and using them to execute its backdoor amnesty program. In both money and manpower, including the reassignment of lawyers and judges, the administration is diverting resources from enforcement priorities set by Congress to identifying illegal aliens whose cases are to be dismissed. Moreover, illegal aliens whose cases are dismissed will be considered for and likely granted work authorization, despite the fact that Congress has clearly prohibited illegal aliens from working in the U.S. "In addition to these direct contraventions of congressional authority, the policies now being carried out by this administration will result in potentially millions of illegal aliens being given the right to compete with American workers for scarce jobs," Stein noted.

"Taken in their entirely, these memos constitute a frightening consolidation of power over U.S. immigration policy by the agency whose job it is to carry out the will of Congress," said Stein. "The memos make it clear that political appointees at ICE are now making U.S. immigration policy aimed at serving the political goals of the Obama administration instead of the interests of the American people, and in defiance of the laws made by Congress. It is essential that Congress act immediately to rein-in this abuse of executive power. As a first step, funding for the execution of these and all related policies must be cut-off.

"There is no longer any need to speculate about what the administration is up to. The process of carrying out amnesty is already underway with funds that were appropriated for enforcement. Through this rogue amnesty program, the administration is plainly defying the authority of Congress and the will of the American people," Stein concluded.

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. Visit FAIR's website at www.fairus.org.

SOURCE FAIR