This Date in Obama’s Administrative Amnesty: April 1, 2009



This Date in Obama's Administrative AmnestyOn this date five-years ago, the Obama Administration released and granted work authorization to 28 illegal aliens previously arrested by ICE agents during an investigation of the Yamato Engine Specialist plant in Bellingham, Washington. No, this was not an April Fools’ Day joke, but rather a key moment in the Administration’s immigration record, signaling a decision to begin actively undermining worksite enforcement efforts.

In fact, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano claimed she knew nothing of the raid at the Yamato plant that led to the arrest of the 28 illegal aliens to begin with. To the contrary, she expressed outrage that the immigration officers were doing their job by taking illegal aliens they discovered into custody and initiating removal proceedings. After that, she vowed to examine ICE procedures more closely to ensure illegal aliens were no longer a target of worksite enforcement efforts by ICE.

By the end of April 2009, Napolitano put an end to worksite enforcement raids all together. On April 30 ICE issued new guidelines instructing ICE agents to focus on prosecuting the employers who hire illegal aliens, rather than the illegal alien employees.

Though punishing unscrupulous employers who circumvent the law by employing illegal aliens should be a priority, doing so is no substitute for enforcing our immigration laws and deporting those who have crossed our borders or overstayed their visas unlawfully. Click here to read more about President Obama’s record of non-enforcement.

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Content written by Federation for American Immigration Reform staff.

3 Comments

  1. avatar
    Svetlana Crawley on

    I am just curious why she even would give this work authorization . None of them deserve staying here. How much taxpayers payed for their legalization. I n general it is at least 1000$ per person. Did they run background security check not just for USA but for the country where they are coming from ? how many more criminals from other countries will be here? Did they check them for AId virus and all other, appropriate vaccination.

  2. avatar

    Click here to read more about President Obama’s record of non-enforcement.

    Just how long are we going to put up with this crap !?!?!? They are suppose to up hold our laws….NOT CHANGE THEM !!!!! THIS IS JUST PLAIN CRAP !!!! TO IT’S HIGHEST !!
    b.o. is our worst enemy !!! Get him out now or all of you will be charged with TREASON !!
    ALL OF YOU KNOW HE’S NOT LEGAL HIMSELF !