Representative Doug Collins (R-GA) sent DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano a follow-up letter pressing for answers on ICE’s decision to release thousands of illegal aliens under the guise of sequestration (read the Congressman’s first letter here). Below is the press release issued by the office of Representative Collins on the letter, which was co-signed by seven other Republican members of the Georgia delegation.
COLLINS REMAINS VIGILANT IN THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, DEMANDS ANSWERS ON ILLEGALS FROM NAPOLITANO
Georgia’s freshman rep. sends second letter to DHS Secretary requesting urgency in mass release of illegal aliens from federal custodyWASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Doug Collins (R-GA) has submitted a follow-up letter to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, regarding the decision made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to release criminal and illegal aliens from federal custody. Collins’ initial letter to Security Napolitano was sent on March 7, 2013 and was co-signed by Georgia Reps. Lynn Westmoreland, Phil Gingrey, Tom Graves and Paul Broun.
Recently publicized documents have shed light on the process by which ICE officials chose to release these criminal and illegal immigrants to reduce agency overhead costs. Specific to Georgia, these records confirm that the Atlanta Field Office has released 128 illegal aliens so far from four different detention facilities. Of those released in Georgia, 53 are deemed criminal illegal aliens. The release coincided with a detention bed availability sitting well below the average daily requirement.
“If the Department of Homeland Security is in charge of keeping Americans safe, it doesn’t seem to be doing a very good job of it at this point in time,” said Collins. “Playing games with the safety of our country’s wellbeing is unacceptable. It’s cowardly and dangerous, and the Obama Administration should be held accountable for allowing this type of behavior to occur in the first place.
“President Obama has turned his political scare tactics into perilous actions that undermine the safety of the American people. Every hardworking taxpayer deserves to know who approved the release of these criminals, and what the thought process was behind doing so. I find it incredibly hard to believe the Department of Homeland Security had no other options besides discharging criminals out into our communities, and I have made a commitment to people of Georgia’s Ninth District to find the answers to these important questions.”
Please read the attached document for the full text of Collins’ letter. Co-signers from the Georgia delegation include: Reps. Phil Gingrey, Paul Broun, Lynn Westmoreland, Tom Price, Jack Kingston, Austin Scott and Tom Graves.