Gohmert Sounds Off on Immigration
Posted/updated on: March 21, 2013 at 1:59 pm
WASHINGTON D.C. — Tyler Congressman Louie Gohmert challenged at a judiciary hearing decisions made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton. As reported by the Associated Press, a few weeks ago, the federal organization released around 2,000 immigrants awaiting deportation from detention facilities across the country in preparation for sequestration. Another 3,000 are expected to be set free sometime in March. According to KETK, Gohmert referred to Texas officials being left in the dark on what could be considered a dangerous decision. “They would really like to know that you are about to release those people in their state so they can give their law enforcement a heads up.”
The congressman then proceeded to question Morton on whether there are requirements to notify state and local authorities when criminals and suspected criminals are let go free. Morton replied, “There are no blanket notification requirements. Generally speaking, the notification that we will give is through the victim notification system.” He went on to confirm local law enforcement is not made aware of ICE detainment releases.
During his allotted time to speak, Gohmert slammed the Obama administration for its handling of illegal immigrants. “The number one biggest problem in this administration, of a federal felony nature, is the re-entry by deported illegal immigrants after they’ve been deported.” Representative Gohmert also referred back to his time as a district judge explaining the hurdles the state must jump when dealing with immigration. “It was an ongoing problem. I had a guy with nine DWIs, never would be deported, was constantly deported to the federal authorities. This was when Bill Clinton was president , and finally, he hit somebody again.”
He also went on to point out what he terms the egregious amount of money spent in the court system handling these cases and pleaded with Morton to use our nation’s capital more wisely, stating, “This administration should do everything they can to secure the border.” Gohmert closed with, “Secure the border and we’ll have all the saving we’ll ever need.”
