A federal judge said this week that the Obama administration is likely violating the law by telling immigration agents and officers not to arrest illegal immigrants they deem low priority, in a case that could upend President Obama’s enforcement policy.
For the last several years the administration has said it will no longer arrest most illegal immigrants, arguing it wants to focus only on those with serious criminal records or gang ties. The Homeland Security department said it was using “prosecutorial discretion.”...
.....Federal Judge Reed O'Connor said in a court order Tuesday that Congress, not the president, sets priority for arresting illegal immigrants, and said the law requires them to be put in deportation proceedings.
“The court finds that DHS does not have discretion to refuse to initiate removal proceedings,” Judge O'Connor wrote.
He said if Homeland Security officials want to set priorities for who they deport, they can do that later — but they cannot control who agents arrest.
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For the last several years the administration has said it will no longer arrest most illegal immigrants, arguing it wants to focus only on those with serious criminal records or gang ties. The Homeland Security department said it was using “prosecutorial discretion.”...
.....Federal Judge Reed O'Connor said in a court order Tuesday that Congress, not the president, sets priority for arresting illegal immigrants, and said the law requires them to be put in deportation proceedings.
“The court finds that DHS does not have discretion to refuse to initiate removal proceedings,” Judge O'Connor wrote.
He said if Homeland Security officials want to set priorities for who they deport, they can do that later — but they cannot control who agents arrest.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...on-cant-refuse-arrest-illegals/#ixzz2RRqI8JoJ
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter