On Wednesday, the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement voted to subpoena officials in the Obama administration over its new deportation policy, based on fears that the administration may be releasing dangerous criminals back onto the streets.
As Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said yesterday, “Are administration officials afraid the information will show that illegal aliens intentionally released by ICE have committed crimes that could have been prevented?”
Since I’m sure they read the news just like everyone else, I don’t understand where Smith or anyone else finds the gall to criticize the president over his record on immigration. In its most recent fiscal year ending on September 30, the Department of Homeland Security deported 396,906 individuals, which beats the previous record the DHS set in 2010 by around 4,000. During his three years in office, the number of immigrants the president’s administration has deported nearly matches that of his predecessor – Obama’s 1.06 million to Bush’s 1.57 million.
And when, in August, the president adjusts his deportation policy to address the issue of time, energy and funds being wasted in the pursuit of non-serious criminals for removal, now his critics have the audacity to accuse him of being soft on immigration.
The Obama administration shouldn’t feel the need to kowtow to any member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, unless that member is pressuring Obama to execute his new deportation policy. His record – unfortunately – speaks for itself.