Janet Napolitano named in two lawsuits
new Obama administration directives regarding the removal of illegal immigrants could put the agents in violation of federal law.
NumbersUSA, a nonprofit organization calling for lower levels of immigration, quickly claimed a stake in the suit, saying on its Web site that it would be “financing the effort” of the agents. According to NumbersUSA Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach will be representing the agents.
The suit cites the decision – announced 15 June and going into effect 15 August — to allow young immigrants brought to the United States before the age of sixteen and who meet specific criteria, to be eligible for a 2-year relief period in which they cannot be deported.
The administration announced in June it will stop deporting young illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children and are currently younger than 30, who came to the United States before the age of 16, who pose no criminal or security threat, and who were successful students or served in the military. Immigrants who meet these criteria can get a 2-year deferral from deportation.
The ICE agents’ suit also objects to “prosecutorial discretion” in which ICE agents have to focus their attention on dangerous criminals who are illegal immigrants. The agents are refusing to adhere to the new policies, and they do not want to face disciplinary actions or lawsuits if they continue to arrest any immigrant who is residing in the United State illegally.
“We are federal law enforcement officers who are being ordered to break the law. This directive puts ICE agents and officers in a horrible position,” Chris Crane, one of the agents filing suit and the president of the ICE agents and officers union, said, according to a news release posted on the NumbersUSA site.
Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) agrees with the lawsuit. “It is a sad day when our nation’s law enforcement officers are left with no recourse but to file a suit against the administration and its political appointees. America was poised to make great progress on immigration enforcement — after Congress was forced into action by the American public — but the President’s unilateral pursuit of far-reaching amnesty has not only undermined this progress but reversed it.”
.Matt Chandler, a spokesperson with DHS, responded to Crane’s comments. “DHS uses prosecutorial discretion to assist in focusing vigorously on the removal of individuals who are convicted criminals, repeat immigration law violators, and recent border-crossers.”
Politicians who agree with the directive argue that it does not grant immunity or provide a shortcut to citizenship, but instead provides a way for undocumented workers to be productive workers with the promise that they will not be deported for two years.
Those who oppose the directive see it as a way to backdoor amnesty to illegal immigrants as well as making an already poor job market even harder on young Americans.
Almost 1.7 million immigrants are eligible for the program, according to Pew Hispanic Center.
