HSNW conversation with Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas)Congressman says Obama's immigration strategy a “backdoor amnesty policy"

Homeland Security NewsWire: In your opinion has the Obama administration’s immigration strategy been effective? In particular, has the administration’s approach of targeting employers who hire undocumented workers as well as illegal aliens with criminal records been successful?

Representative Michael McCaul: What should not go unnoticed is this administration’s policy of incentivizing people to come into the United States illegally by allowing them to apply for work permits if they aren’t violent criminals. This goes around the will of the Congress, and I think, is akin to a backdoor amnesty policy.  As a former federal prosecutor, I understand prosecutorial discretion, but there is a difference between not deporting and giving someone a job. This kind of backdoor amnesty policy is a serious concern to the American worker and to our national security. An alarming example of this would be Mohammed Atta, who was one of the 9/11 hijackers who overstayed his visa but did not have a criminal record.

HSNW: Given the current fiscal climate on the Hill and the more than $1 billion SBInet project that was ultimately cancelled, are there any cost-effective solutions to border security that you are examining in particular?

MM: Technology working in concert with boots on the ground is the key to securing the border. Nearly four years ago I started pushing for DHS to incorporate existing DOD technology, including sensor surveillance technology, that’s already proven to work on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. This equipment is readily available and it would save taxpayers’ money because there would be no additional R&D cost. In addition, last month I passed several amendments through the Homeland Security Committee addressing border security. One of them secures two more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the Southwest border. Another scraps a program that was wasting taxpayer dollars on radiation detectors that did not work and diverts $15 million to our BEST teams, which confiscate southbound weapons and cash that arm and fund the cartels. This reallocation specifically targets the life-blood of the cartels without increasing the budget.  Both of these will have a direct impact on our ability to seal the border and disrupt the movement of human, drugs, and weapons trafficking.

HSNW: Cities and states across the country have been widely opposed to the Secure Communities program and there has been significant confusion surrounding whether participation is mandatory or not. In light of the criticism surrounding the program, what can be done to bring states and cities on board and assuage opponents of Secure Communities?

MM: The Secure Communities program is an incredible asset of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that we need to continue to support. Through the program we have seen a 71 percent increase in the deportation of convicted criminals, which contributed to 81,000 more criminal removals in FY 2010 than in FY 2008. These are incredible numbers of criminals that are no longer roaming our towns and cities.
The key to making this program more successful is open communication and real dialogue. ICE should more thoroughly communicate its role to state and local authorities so they understand the benefits. When a police department makes an arrest, the FBI automatically cross-references the fingerprints with ICE so it can provide the suspect’s immigration status to local authorities. If the suspect is here illegally, ICE sends agents to make the removal.
The key here is dialogue and communication. ICE must do more than distribute electronic guides and pamphlets to ensure states and local law enforcement understand the program and how ICE is addressing the issues that states and law enforcement are bringing up.

HSNW: With residents living along the U.S.– Mexico border increasingly concerned about the influence of Mexican drug cartels in the United States, what can be done to better secure the border from violence and smugglers?

MM: This goes back to technology supplementing boots on the ground.  There is no doubt we need more border patrol agents. However, it is not realistic to think we can line them up side by side across a 2,000-mile porous border. Our agents need the benefit of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and infrared sensor technology to conduct surveillance, and then the resources to quickly pursue what is found.

HSNW: Finally, in your view, what is the greatest challenge in securing U.S. borders? That is to say, despite the billions of dollars spent and the thousands of troops and border agents deployed, how are cartels and non-U.S. citizens able to regularly cross the border?

MM: Same as above – porous border and technology.