Transcripts For CSPAN3 Lawmakers Spar Over Immigration Polic

Enforcement on our nations Immigration Laws. The chairman recognizes himself for an Opening Statement. It is fitting that todays hearing is called enforcement of our nations Immigration Law. The past eight years experienced the growth of antiImmigration Enforcement policies at every level of government and the vilification of state and local Law Enforcement officers who attempt to enforce our nations duly enacted Immigration Laws. Our Immigration Laws are an expression of our nations sovereignty. Theyre not suggestions. Yet theyve been ignored and the example was set from the top. The Obama Administration abandoned the rule of law under the guise of prosecute toerl expression. The coldblooded mushed of steinly m, terrorist attacks ranging from the World Trade Center to the mass kra at san bernardino, the time is long overdue to ensure that our Immigration Laws are enforced and the rule of law is truly restored. The Obama Administrations policies of catch and release and of rubber stamping federal clear claims at the border have left this nation increasingly at risk. The sky high credible fear and asylum grant rates encourage people to make the illits es trip to the United States. Simultaneously, icery moving from the interior dropped from 238,000 in 2009 to only 65,000 in 2016. The Trump Administration inhe t inherited a shell of immigration reinforcement that it must rebuild. Today we will hear from witnesses who can explain the differences between federal, state can cooperation. The sanctuary communities have decided to make a political statement out of lawlessness. The decline outcome report that ice will regularly issue will prove itself a tool. The government must encourage sanctuary policies and practices. Under dh ss november 14th, 2014 departmental guidance, ice was given guidelines that was permitted to apprehend and seek to remove. The traditional guidance ended the success programs further restricted these parameters. They were sold to the americans as prioritizing isiss need to go after the worse from the worse. Yet it fell from almost 87,000 in fiscal 2014 to approximately 63,500 the following two fiscal years. Under president obama was understood that ie sigh lem officers should get to yes by any means necessary. Asylum laws were written to offer refuge to the truly persecuted and policies like this did nothing to advance those goals. Instead, those Obama Administration policies worked to encourage many aliens to seek asylum with fraudulent boilerplate storage. The new administration is taking steps to stop this. This problem is endemic and i look forward to hearing today from our witnesses on the best practices to address asylum fraud. It is now my pleasure to recognize the Ranking Member of the subcommittee on immigration and Border Security, ms. Laughlin from california for five minutes for her Opening Statement. Thank you mr. Dharm. Todays hearing implietds that up until recently our Immigration Laws simply went unenforced. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fast administration deported more immigrants than any other Previous Administration and the president obama even earned the infamous neck name deporter in chief. This massive increase in deportation never satisfied many republicans who repeatedly kept citing the supposed lack of enforcement as a reason not to pursue reform. Today, republicans control all levels of the federal government but instead of finally attacking the problems, theyre focussing on attacking local governments with Community Trust policies. Among other things, plumps executive orders threaten to attempt to shame and attempt to with hold federal funds from jurisdictions that resist in the Obama Administrations opinion the federal governments request to cooperate with Immigration Enforcement. The constitution, specifically the 10th amendment protects states rights and prohibits actions that commandeer state and local officials. When it comes to immigration, these principles are overlooked. Recently i was at a meeting where the mayor of san jose said we dont send out the San Jose Police department to enforce security and exchange laws, the federal tax laws, the maritime laws. Thats the job of the federal government. Their wellknown constitutional limits on the ability of the federal government to with hold funds to the states. State and local officials know their communities and know how to keep them safe bsh than the federal government. The constitutions longstanding principle is apparently either ignored or seen as an impediment by some people. In the recent executive order on interior enforcement, President Trump abolished the prior administrations authorities to go after all undocumented immigrants in the United States. While this enforcement agenda may satisfy the most extreme elements in our country, it isnt smart. It does not make our country safer and it does not make our country stronger and it has create add culture of fear. There are photos of children taken from their parents by inches ce officers. The story of mothers being deported after dutiyfully checking in to i. C. E. Appointments and there are threats by the secretary of the Homeland Security department to separate mothers from their children for deterrence purposes. The fear caused by these acts is pervasive and is particlizing communities across our country. Some may dismiss the heartbreak of some families across the country. Weve already seen, for example, reports of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault dropped dramatically in latinos in los angeles. The devastating consequences these policies are sure to have. Its time to stop posturing and think about ways to fix the broken immigration system. I stand ready to work with my colleagues cross the aisle to reform our immigration policies from top to bottom. That i yield back the balance if i could, mr. Chairman i would also ask annapolis consent to enter into record statements from the following individuals and organizations expressing concerns about President Trumps reinforcement policies. That would be the National Immigration Justice Center, the chief of police of marshalltown. The fair Immigration Reform movement, the National Task force to end sexual violence, the referee gee ood slow ka si coalition as well as 292 law professors saying that its unconstitutional. The gentleman from virginia and the chairman of the full committee, mr. Goodlat is in the senate. I wish him well in whatever hes talking about there. We all our mere house members will have to ask the voters ever two years to send us back dealing with the senators. I would now recognize mr. Conners from michigan for his Opening Statement. Mr. Chairman, was the unanimous consent requested. Without objection. Your request will be granted. Thank you. Gentleman from michigan. Thank you mr. Chairman and congratulations again on your ascension to the chairmanship of this important committee. Members of the committee, i want you all to know that we i welcome all of our witnesses and look forward to their testimony and id just like to remind you. I dont frequently quote former president reagan, but he once said our nation is a nation of immigrants. More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and our capacity to welcome those from other lands. That quote was uncontroversial among my republican friends and colleagues then and it should remain so now. Affirmation of the moral and social worth of immigrants is not a partisan position. It is simply american. As we begin todays hearing, i urge my colleagues to use this forum to examine sensible, effective measures rooted in fact and practice for recognizing laws in keeping our communities safe. One fact we must consider is that studies have repeatedly shown that immigrants in the United States are less likely than nativeborn americans to engage in crime. The vast majority of immigrants in the United States are peaceful, law abiding individuals who support their families and communities. Another fact is that the southern border is more secure than ever. Apprehension rates at the seven border have plummeted since the 1980s. And apprehensions of mexicans, specifically, have reached their lowest point in nearly half a century. This helps explain why most americans dont want the trump border wall which would cost upwards the staggering 20 billion to build and 750 million annually to maintain is estimated. Notwithstanding these facts and others, the Current Administration continues to vilify immigrants and attack the communities that have decided not to conscript their Law Enforcement into a mass Deportation Force. In fact, yesterday attorney general sessions threatened to with hold federal funds from such jurisdictions. Let me be clear. Attorney general sessions should not substitute his judgment for that of Law Enforcement and local jurisdictions who know what it is best to keep their communities safe. The attorney general purports to place a high priority on fighting crime, but threatens to with hold muchneeded Justice Department funding from the very agencies that are on the front line in protecting all of us. Over 600 counties and cities have made the decision to resist the administrations efforts to conscript their local officials into a mass Deportation Force because experience and data show that local enforcement of federal Immigration Law often makes communities less safe. It breeds profiling, discrimination, and distrust. Immigrant victims and witnesses stopped reporting crimes to authorities and criminals grow emboldened. In fact, studies have shown that these sanctuary cities are actually safer and more prosperous than their unsanctuary counterparts. Finally, under the guise of enforcing the law, weve already witnessed donald trump and his administration floul on Divisive Campaign rhetoric with actions that threaten our core American Values and will do nothing to make us safer. To cite a few examples, in less than 90 days, this administration has already threatened an unconstitutional use of federal Spending Authority to strong arm local jurisdictions into enforcing federal Immigration Law. Under two more points undermine the Fourth Amendment by pressuring cities into detaining immigrants without probable cause, and finally, and has conducted any discriminate nat rates on peaceful immigrant families in their homes, places of work, and even in their schools. Such antiimmigrant measures not only raise serious constitutional concerns, but theyre contrary to our proud history as a nation of immigrants. I thank the chairman, welcome again the witnesses for their testimony today and i yield back. Thank you. Without objection, other members Opening Statements will be made part of the record. We have a very distinguished panel today. I will begin by swearing in our kwnss before introducing them. If you would, all please rise. You solemnly swear the system you give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you god . Let the record show that all the witnesses answered in the affirmative. Ill begin we introducing the witnesses. Sheriff thomas m. Hodgson was an elected official and the chief Law Enforcement officer of bristol, massachusetts. Originally appointed in 1997 by governor william weld has subsequently been reelected. Under his watch the Sheriffs Office has established a drug task gang unit. Thinks department participates in the 287g program that he along with other sheriffs has called for the Immigration Reform with the emphasis on Border Security and interior enforcement. He previously testified before the massachusetts great and General Court regarding sarchl ware policies. Ms. Jessica vaughn serves as the drosh of policy studies with the center for immigration studies. She status numerous facets of immigration policy including immigration Law Enforcement. Prior to this role she served as a Foreign Service officer with the state department and has testified in front of this committee on numerous matters, including at a similar hearing in 2015. Ms. Vaughn has a masters agree from georgetown universities and earned her bachelors agree in International Studies at washington dplej maryland. Mr. Andrew arthur is the former staff director for the government reform and oversight committee. National security subcommittee. Prior to servings as a staff, he was an immigration judge of the pennsylvania immigration court. He is a fellow colleague of house judiciary committee, subcommittee on immigration where he served as a counsel for five years advising thechairman, me, on matters relating to the enforcement of Immigration Laws and policy. He has received his b. A. From the university of virginia and his law degree from the George Washington school of law. Ms. Archie, iatti serves as the chief of policy and program at the tyrea Justice Center. She spear heads national and local poilg, overseeing direct services to immigrant women and forging and mobilizing the bhi partisan coalition to press for laws, regulations and policies to better protect them from violence. Before joining tyria she was the againity director of the intervention project of the families in new york. She is a graduate from Brown University and received her law degree. Without objection each witnesss written statements will be entered into the record in their entirety. I ask that each witness summarize his or her testimony in five minutes or less. To help you stay within that time limit, there are lights in front of you and you all know what they mean. So sheriff hodgein, why dont you lead off . Press the button on your mike. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mechanics of the committee, security guards, metal detectors and scanners greetsed me this morning as i came in. These measures are in place to protect the safety of everyone inside. Most people are cleared plaetd quickly and go about their business. Its the others who intend to do us harm, those who have no respect for our laws that we have to worry about. Its those who the Capital Police must hydrogen entry. We owe the same level of protection and safety to our legal residents. We must use all the tools in our toolboxes, share resources to truly restore enforcement of our Immigration Laws for the safety and security of our citizen. Public safety is my number one priority. Must be safety is your number one priority. Public safety is any governments any government officials number one priority. Public safety is what brings me here today. It is argue bring no bigger threat to Public Safety than illegal immigration. Mr. Chairman and esteemed members of this committee i want to thank you for inviting me to testify on what is perhaps the can biggest threat to National Security and the safety of all americans. Good thoughtful Immigration Law exists as enactsed decades ago. However, if a laws not enforced, ice use less. As a sheriff for 20 years and a Police Officer for six more ive spent my career enforcesing laws. I have a sworn duty to uphode the constitution of the United States. Just as you took the oath of office to faithfully discharge the duties of the office on when you enter, the law is what you and the courts say it is. But unfortunately, due to years of liberal policies nonenforcement, congress now has to hold hearings on how to enforce laws that have been on the books for decades. Most of my Law Enforcement colleagues will agree that Severe Damage has been done to National Security, and the only thing we can do now is move forward and discuss how to fix it. The fooact is, our citizens wou be safer we never stopped enforcing Immigration Law and never turned a mind eye to sanctuary cities. Local counties, state and county Immigration Law<\/a>s. The chairman recognizes himself for an Opening Statement<\/a>. It is fitting that todays hearing is called enforcement of our nations Immigration Law<\/a>. The past eight years experienced the growth of antiImmigration Enforcement<\/a> policies at every level of government and the vilification of state and local Law Enforcement<\/a> officers who attempt to enforce our nations duly enacted Immigration Law<\/a>s. Our Immigration Law<\/a>s are an expression of our nations sovereignty. Theyre not suggestions. Yet theyve been ignored and the example was set from the top. The Obama Administration<\/a> abandoned the rule of law under the guise of prosecute toerl expression. The coldblooded mushed of steinly m, terrorist attacks ranging from the World Trade Center<\/a> to the mass kra at san bernardino, the time is long overdue to ensure that our Immigration Law<\/a>s are enforced and the rule of law is truly restored. The Obama Administration<\/a>s policies of catch and release and of rubber stamping federal clear claims at the border have left this nation increasingly at risk. The sky high credible fear and asylum grant rates encourage people to make the illits es trip to the United States<\/a>. Simultaneously, icery moving from the interior dropped from 238,000 in 2009 to only 65,000 in 2016. The Trump Administration<\/a> inhe t inherited a shell of immigration reinforcement that it must rebuild. Today we will hear from witnesses who can explain the differences between federal, state can cooperation. The sanctuary communities have decided to make a political statement out of lawlessness. The decline outcome report that ice will regularly issue will prove itself a tool. The government must encourage sanctuary policies and practices. Under dh ss november 14th, 2014 departmental guidance, ice was given guidelines that was permitted to apprehend and seek to remove. The traditional guidance ended the success programs further restricted these parameters. They were sold to the americans as prioritizing isiss need to go after the worse from the worse. Yet it fell from almost 87,000 in fiscal 2014 to approximately 63,500 the following two fiscal years. Under president obama was understood that ie sigh lem officers should get to yes by any means necessary. Asylum laws were written to offer refuge to the truly persecuted and policies like this did nothing to advance those goals. Instead, those Obama Administration<\/a> policies worked to encourage many aliens to seek asylum with fraudulent boilerplate storage. The new administration is taking steps to stop this. This problem is endemic and i look forward to hearing today from our witnesses on the best practices to address asylum fraud. It is now my pleasure to recognize the Ranking Member<\/a> of the subcommittee on immigration and Border Security<\/a>, ms. Laughlin from california for five minutes for her Opening Statement<\/a>. Thank you mr. Dharm. Todays hearing implietds that up until recently our Immigration Law<\/a>s simply went unenforced. Nothing could be further from the truth. The fast administration deported more immigrants than any other Previous Administration<\/a> and the president obama even earned the infamous neck name deporter in chief. This massive increase in deportation never satisfied many republicans who repeatedly kept citing the supposed lack of enforcement as a reason not to pursue reform. Today, republicans control all levels of the federal government but instead of finally attacking the problems, theyre focussing on attacking local governments with Community Trust<\/a> policies. Among other things, plumps executive orders threaten to attempt to shame and attempt to with hold federal funds from jurisdictions that resist in the Obama Administration<\/a>s opinion the federal governments request to cooperate with Immigration Enforcement<\/a>. The constitution, specifically the 10th amendment protects states rights and prohibits actions that commandeer state and local officials. When it comes to immigration, these principles are overlooked. Recently i was at a meeting where the mayor of san jose said we dont send out the San Jose Police<\/a> department to enforce security and exchange laws, the federal tax laws, the maritime laws. Thats the job of the federal government. Their wellknown constitutional limits on the ability of the federal government to with hold funds to the states. State and local officials know their communities and know how to keep them safe bsh than the federal government. The constitutions longstanding principle is apparently either ignored or seen as an impediment by some people. In the recent executive order on interior enforcement, President Trump<\/a> abolished the prior administrations authorities to go after all undocumented immigrants in the United States<\/a>. While this enforcement agenda may satisfy the most extreme elements in our country, it isnt smart. It does not make our country safer and it does not make our country stronger and it has create add culture of fear. There are photos of children taken from their parents by inches ce officers. The story of mothers being deported after dutiyfully checking in to i. C. E. Appointments and there are threats by the secretary of the Homeland Security<\/a> department to separate mothers from their children for deterrence purposes. The fear caused by these acts is pervasive and is particlizing communities across our country. Some may dismiss the heartbreak of some families across the country. Weve already seen, for example, reports of Domestic Violence<\/a> and Sexual Assault<\/a> dropped dramatically in latinos in los angeles. The devastating consequences these policies are sure to have. Its time to stop posturing and think about ways to fix the broken immigration system. I stand ready to work with my colleagues cross the aisle to reform our immigration policies from top to bottom. That i yield back the balance if i could, mr. Chairman i would also ask annapolis consent to enter into record statements from the following individuals and organizations expressing concerns about President Trump<\/a>s reinforcement policies. That would be the National Immigration<\/a> Justice Center<\/a>, the chief of police of marshalltown. The fair Immigration Reform<\/a> movement, the National Task<\/a> force to end sexual violence, the referee gee ood slow ka si coalition as well as 292 law professors saying that its unconstitutional. The gentleman from virginia and the chairman of the full committee, mr. Goodlat is in the senate. I wish him well in whatever hes talking about there. We all our mere house members will have to ask the voters ever two years to send us back dealing with the senators. I would now recognize mr. Conners from michigan for his Opening Statement<\/a>. Mr. Chairman, was the unanimous consent requested. Without objection. Your request will be granted. Thank you. Gentleman from michigan. Thank you mr. Chairman and congratulations again on your ascension to the chairmanship of this important committee. Members of the committee, i want you all to know that we i welcome all of our witnesses and look forward to their testimony and id just like to remind you. I dont frequently quote former president reagan, but he once said our nation is a nation of immigrants. More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and our capacity to welcome those from other lands. That quote was uncontroversial among my republican friends and colleagues then and it should remain so now. Affirmation of the moral and social worth of immigrants is not a partisan position. It is simply american. As we begin todays hearing, i urge my colleagues to use this forum to examine sensible, effective measures rooted in fact and practice for recognizing laws in keeping our communities safe. One fact we must consider is that studies have repeatedly shown that immigrants in the United States<\/a> are less likely than nativeborn americans to engage in crime. The vast majority of immigrants in the United States<\/a> are peaceful, law abiding individuals who support their families and communities. Another fact is that the southern border is more secure than ever. Apprehension rates at the seven border have plummeted since the 1980s. And apprehensions of mexicans, specifically, have reached their lowest point in nearly half a century. This helps explain why most americans dont want the trump border wall which would cost upwards the staggering 20 billion to build and 750 million annually to maintain is estimated. Notwithstanding these facts and others, the Current Administration<\/a> continues to vilify immigrants and attack the communities that have decided not to conscript their Law Enforcement<\/a> into a mass Deportation Force<\/a>. In fact, yesterday attorney general sessions threatened to with hold federal funds from such jurisdictions. Let me be clear. Attorney general sessions should not substitute his judgment for that of Law Enforcement<\/a> and local jurisdictions who know what it is best to keep their communities safe. The attorney general purports to place a high priority on fighting crime, but threatens to with hold muchneeded Justice Department<\/a> funding from the very agencies that are on the front line in protecting all of us. Over 600 counties and cities have made the decision to resist the administrations efforts to conscript their local officials into a mass Deportation Force<\/a> because experience and data show that local enforcement of federal Immigration Law<\/a> often makes communities less safe. It breeds profiling, discrimination, and distrust. Immigrant victims and witnesses stopped reporting crimes to authorities and criminals grow emboldened. In fact, studies have shown that these sanctuary cities are actually safer and more prosperous than their unsanctuary counterparts. Finally, under the guise of enforcing the law, weve already witnessed donald trump and his administration floul on Divisive Campaign<\/a> rhetoric with actions that threaten our core American Values<\/a> and will do nothing to make us safer. To cite a few examples, in less than 90 days, this administration has already threatened an unconstitutional use of federal Spending Authority<\/a> to strong arm local jurisdictions into enforcing federal Immigration Law<\/a>. Under two more points undermine the Fourth Amendment<\/a> by pressuring cities into detaining immigrants without probable cause, and finally, and has conducted any discriminate nat rates on peaceful immigrant families in their homes, places of work, and even in their schools. Such antiimmigrant measures not only raise serious constitutional concerns, but theyre contrary to our proud history as a nation of immigrants. I thank the chairman, welcome again the witnesses for their testimony today and i yield back. Thank you. Without objection, other members Opening Statements<\/a> will be made part of the record. We have a very distinguished panel today. I will begin by swearing in our kwnss before introducing them. If you would, all please rise. You solemnly swear the system you give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you god . Let the record show that all the witnesses answered in the affirmative. Ill begin we introducing the witnesses. Sheriff thomas m. Hodgson was an elected official and the chief Law Enforcement<\/a> officer of bristol, massachusetts. Originally appointed in 1997 by governor william weld has subsequently been reelected. Under his watch the Sheriffs Office<\/a> has established a drug task gang unit. Thinks department participates in the 287g program that he along with other sheriffs has called for the Immigration Reform<\/a> with the emphasis on Border Security<\/a> and interior enforcement. He previously testified before the massachusetts great and General Court<\/a> regarding sarchl ware policies. Ms. Jessica vaughn serves as the drosh of policy studies with the center for immigration studies. She status numerous facets of immigration policy including immigration Law Enforcement<\/a>. Prior to this role she served as a Foreign Service<\/a> officer with the state department and has testified in front of this committee on numerous matters, including at a similar hearing in 2015. Ms. Vaughn has a masters agree from georgetown universities and earned her bachelors agree in International Studies<\/a> at washington dplej maryland. Mr. Andrew arthur is the former staff director for the government reform and oversight committee. National security subcommittee. Prior to servings as a staff, he was an immigration judge of the pennsylvania immigration court. He is a fellow colleague of house judiciary committee, subcommittee on immigration where he served as a counsel for five years advising thechairman, me, on matters relating to the enforcement of Immigration Law<\/a>s and policy. He has received his b. A. From the university of virginia and his law degree from the George Washington<\/a> school of law. Ms. Archie, iatti serves as the chief of policy and program at the tyrea Justice Center<\/a>. She spear heads national and local poilg, overseeing direct services to immigrant women and forging and mobilizing the bhi partisan coalition to press for laws, regulations and policies to better protect them from violence. Before joining tyria she was the againity director of the intervention project of the families in new york. She is a graduate from Brown University<\/a> and received her law degree. Without objection each witnesss written statements will be entered into the record in their entirety. I ask that each witness summarize his or her testimony in five minutes or less. To help you stay within that time limit, there are lights in front of you and you all know what they mean. So sheriff hodgein, why dont you lead off . Press the button on your mike. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mechanics of the committee, security guards, metal detectors and scanners greetsed me this morning as i came in. These measures are in place to protect the safety of everyone inside. Most people are cleared plaetd quickly and go about their business. Its the others who intend to do us harm, those who have no respect for our laws that we have to worry about. Its those who the Capital Police<\/a> must hydrogen entry. We owe the same level of protection and safety to our legal residents. We must use all the tools in our toolboxes, share resources to truly restore enforcement of our Immigration Law<\/a>s for the safety and security of our citizen. Public safety is my number one priority. Must be safety is your number one priority. Public safety is any governments any government officials number one priority. Public safety is what brings me here today. It is argue bring no bigger threat to Public Safety<\/a> than illegal immigration. Mr. Chairman and esteemed members of this committee i want to thank you for inviting me to testify on what is perhaps the can biggest threat to National Security<\/a> and the safety of all americans. Good thoughtful Immigration Law<\/a> exists as enactsed decades ago. However, if a laws not enforced, ice use less. As a sheriff for 20 years and a Police Officer<\/a> for six more ive spent my career enforcesing laws. I have a sworn duty to uphode the constitution of the United States<\/a>. Just as you took the oath of office to faithfully discharge the duties of the office on when you enter, the law is what you and the courts say it is. But unfortunately, due to years of liberal policies nonenforcement, congress now has to hold hearings on how to enforce laws that have been on the books for decades. Most of my Law Enforcement<\/a> colleagues will agree that Severe Damage<\/a> has been done to National Security<\/a>, and the only thing we can do now is move forward and discuss how to fix it. The fooact is, our citizens wou be safer we never stopped enforcing Immigration Law<\/a> and never turned a mind eye to sanctuary cities. Local counties, state and county Law Enforcement<\/a> working together, sharing intelligence and resources as much as possible. Working together as one team with the goal of keeping the public safe. Our Law Enforcement<\/a> team has an opposing team that consists of local officials, elected or appointed, who have created sanctuary cities, states, communities, and even colleges. These officials pledge not to work with, cooperate, or even communicate with federal Immigration Enforcement<\/a>. As a result, these safe zones have become magnets for illegal aliens, some of which have violent criminal records. At best, sanctuary cities are a violation of trust between the elected officials. At the worst, its careless, illegal, and extremely dangerous. If these cities are going to harbor criminal illegal aliens from i. C. E. , arrest warrants should be issued for elected officials. Ive doubled down on my commitment to boost Public Safety<\/a> by becoming the Second Organization<\/a> to enter into 287g. If one thing our country learned from 9 11, all branches of Law Enforcement<\/a> have to Work Together<\/a> and share resources as much as possible. Under the 287g program, Correctional Officers<\/a> will become de facto trained i. C. E. Agents. Our officers will be able to detain, assist 2in deportation f illegal aliens. Instead of waiting for an i. C. E. Agent to drive hours to our facility, our officerks interview the suspect, and electronically communicate with i. C. E. To keep dangerous criminals and illegal aliens off of our streets. More than 400,000 immigrants were identified for deportation through 287g programs between 2006 and 2015. About 13,000 foreign born individuals are processed in our facilities in the past five years. This program can result in just one dangerous criminal not being able to commit in the u. S. Its a tremendous tool in our toolbox and nobrainer in terms of Public Safety<\/a>. I want to just inform the committee of something that was just reported this morning that i think completely underscores my point about Immigration Law<\/a>s being undermined in the United States<\/a>. We have a state representative in the 10th Plymouth District<\/a> of massachusetts. It was just reported this morning who learned i. C. E. May be coming to the city of brockton. Sent a message, allalert message on facebook telling everyone that i. C. E. Is going to be coming and make sure you dont answer your doors and make sure that you stay out of sight. This is the most outrageous, outrageous thing that i think for example of what is going on across the United States<\/a> that is undermining my job and every other Law Enforcement<\/a> officer in the United States<\/a> to keep our community safe. That official was responsible for protecting the welfare of the people of their communities, needs to understand that they could be protecting someone that i. C. E. Is looking for and may be possibly connected to terrorism, gangs, or some other horrific criminal history theyve had. Thank you for the time, mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Thank you. Ms. Vaughn . Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this timely topic, restoring enforcement of Immigration Law<\/a>s. President obamas policies left Immigration Enforcement<\/a> in a state of collapse. This has been bad news for country, but the good news is that theres nowhere to go but up now. The Obama Administration<\/a> claimed that they achieved record levels of deportations. But the total number of deportations, by all agencies, has plummeted. Actually, deportations were half the level of the bush and clinton administrations. Interior deportations by i. C. E. Dropped by 70 since 2011, as illustrated by charts. The Obama Administration<\/a> inflated i. C. E. s numbers by counting cases of people arrested at the border, that had never been counted before. The Obama Administration<\/a> claimed that they were doing smarter and more effective Immigration Enforcement<\/a>. But in fact, they operated a massive catch and release program, both at the border and interior. About 40 of the people caught by the boarder patrol trying to cross into the country in 2014 and 15 were allowed to enter and were still here in 2016. Just this morning, i was on a Conference Call<\/a> with an i. C. E. Field office director, and some local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies in her area. And this i. C. E. Official said that they have seen an increase of 20 to 25 in their caseload as a result of new illegal immigration at the southwest border. Not only are the illegal Border Crossers<\/a> still here, so are about 950,000 illegal aliens who have completed their due process and received a final order of removal but are still here in the country. And the smarter, more effective enforcement in the interior included releasing more than 86,000 convicted criminal aliens in three years. More than 100 of these individuals were arrested for homicide after their release, including one man who killed a 21yearold person in mesa, arizona in 2015 after being released. The Previous Administration<\/a> claimed they were focused on felons, not families. But deportations of criminalcli 2011. The Previous Administration<\/a> claimed that they were simply exercising what they called prosecutorial discretion, but they were giving out immigration benefits to illegal aliens and others not otherwise eligible to stay. The Obama Administration<\/a> claimed that their getting of visa an captains was rigrigorous, but s more than 500,000 foreign visitors overstayed in 2015. The vetting for work permits was no better. Hundreds have been issued to gang members and criminals. Last week, a man who had been arrested for killing his 15yearold stepdaughter in texas had been issued a work permit. He had arrests on his record for smuggling, assault, and theft and i. C. E. Was trying to deport him, but instead he was issued a work permit under the Previous Administration<\/a>s policies. I dont dismiss the disappointment of families who have been allowed to live more illegally for all these years or gotten away with it, but this lack of enforcement has imposed enormous costs on american communities. These costs include lost Job Opportunities<\/a> and stagnant wages, higher tax bills, compromised National Security<\/a>, about increased Public Safety<\/a> threats. The Trump Administration<\/a> has already taken steps to reverse the state of affairs and already to good effect. Theyve ended the catch and release policies at the border, theyre taking steps to rebuild partnerships with local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies, including expanding the successful 287g program. Theyre planning to use accelerated forms of due process and to prevent clogging up the immigration courts even further. Reviving task forces focused on smuggling documented gangs, the entire infrastructure that supports illegal immigration. This is making a difference, but some things can only be done by congress. No matter miles of barriers are built, how many i. C. E. Agents are hired, as long as employers think they can get aware with hiring illegal workers, they will keep doing it. As long as someone will hire them, people in other countries will keep coming here. We need congress to enact a phasedeverify requirement. We need the davis oliver act to shore up the weak spots and immigration and nationality act. And we need to address if problem of sanctuaries. Finally, Congress Must<\/a> reduce opportunities for executive abuse of authority on work permits, paroled deferred action and other gimmicks that have been used by president s in the past used to make an end run around the laws. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Arthur . Mr. Chairman, ranking remember and members of the subcommittee. I thank you for the opportunity to testify on this important topic. Ive been involved in immigration for more than two decades. When i started, the act was in its fifth year of implementation. It will turn 31 on november 6, but the premises of this legislation remain sound today. Immigration is essential to the wellbeing to the country, that our Immigration Law<\/a>s must be enforced to be effective, and employment is a magnet that draws immigrants to the United States<\/a>. Unfortunately, the act has never been fully enforced, and the document fraud provisions are all but a dead letter. As a result, the jobs magnet has not been shut off and the population of aliens in the United States<\/a> illegally today dwarfs that of the 99 congress. Im hopeful that your efforts and oversight will result in an immigration system that addresses the needs of our country and protects the wages and working conditions of all americans. Much has changed in immigration since november 1986, but the primary change has been an expax of the focus of enforcement on National Security<\/a>. The main reason i left the i. N. S. Where i had been acting chief of the law division in july of 2001 to come to this committee is because i did not believe we were doing enough to address the terrorist threat from abroad. I was in this room when the chairman and Ranking Member<\/a> conyers took steps needed to address that threat. And im grateful for their leadership. But i believe more still needs to be done. For eight years, i served as an immigration judge in york, pennsylvania. As a judge in a detained court, my docket consisted of aliens unlawfully present in the United States<\/a> who had been apprehended. Much attention has been placed recently on the vetting of refugees. I can speak to that matter further, but i think its important for the members to also focus on a separate but spectacular group of aliens. Unlike refugees, aliens claiming credible fear have not been screened before coming to the United States<\/a>, and for reasons i detail in my written statement are generally not screened effectively after they enter, either. A few of these individuals have bypassed the process all together, leaving refugee camps and making their way to the southern border of the United States<\/a>, where they are apprehended or turn themselves in to u. S. Immigration authorities. Unlike the orderly system the United States<\/a> government has in place abroad for refugee admission, the system for screening those entering illegally lacks the necessary resources to separate those who may pose a danger to the United States<\/a> from those in legitimate need of protection. Rumors abroad, fueled in part by a failure within the United States<\/a> to enforce Immigration Law<\/a>s have encouraged men, women, and children to trust their lives to smugglers and traffickers. The savage and debased nature of those who prey on the desperate and whose stock and trade is human misery. Enforcing our laws will undercut the ability of smugglers to their trade. If people avoid apprehension at the border, they will never be removed, but if apprehenapprehe they can still stay. Many asylum claims do not hold up to scrutiny or in contradicted by the record as a whole. The ability of government officials, Border Patrol<\/a> agents, asylum officers and Immigration Judges<\/a> to identify fraud in the process is crucial to skel quelg those rumors. It is also essential if we were to protect the American People<\/a> from the criminals and National Security<\/a> risk, they would take advantage of our system. More resources are needed to address this problem. Legal immigration, including the refugee process, visa issuance, anded a missions of the port is the front podoor of america and should be secured. Threats to our immigration system are not able to abuse are laws by sneaking in through the back door. I thank each of you and look forward to your questions. Thank you very much. Thank y. Ms. Pyati . The Justice Center<\/a> is a nonpartisan National Nonprofit<\/a> that for over 20 years has provided Legal Services<\/a> to immigrant survivors of human trafficking, Sexual Assault<\/a>, and Domestic Violence<\/a>. As an advocate for victims, i am honored to be invited to comment today on the importance of protecting Public Safety<\/a> while still enforcing our federal Immigration Law<\/a>s. Over the years, i have heard hundreds of women and girls tell me stories of exploitation and abuse by men to establish their power and control over their victims. Among the most vulnerable to this, immigrant women and girls face a number of challenges to accessing help including language barriers, limited resources, ability to work legally, access to public benefits, and fear of deportation. Many abusers use a womans lack of immigration status as a potent tool by threatening their victims could be deported away from their children. There is an all too familiar narrative for my organizations clients, many of whom have been harmed by men. These laws encourage victims to report and cooperate with Law Enforcement<\/a> to help get violent criminals off our streets and make all of us safer. These critical protections and the Public Policy<\/a> goals of Community Safety<\/a> they serve are now being significantly undermined because of misguided Immigration Enforcement<\/a> policies. Secure communities, 287g agreements, and the like rely on a false narrative. On the other hand, there is data to suggest that localities with Community Trust<\/a> policies have actually achieved a reduction in crime. I heard just a few weeks ago a very compelling story by one police chief who told me that one morning there was a gentleman driving his car with his domestic partner, his girlfriend, in the car with him. She attempted im sure was a victim of Domestic Violence<\/a>. She was attempting to escape the car. He dragged her back in, slammed the door, and shot her right there at 9 00 a. M. In the morning in broad daylight. The gentleman kicked her out of the car and sped away. There were only two witnesses to this crime. When police came to try to investigate the crime and find the man who murdered this woman, they questioned the witnesses. The witnesses said they would be happy to cooperate, but asked for reassurance that they wouldnt be deported. When the police gave them that reassurance, they were able to identify the assailant and were able to apprehend him and prosecute him and bring him to justice. More than 600 jurisdictions nationwide have enacted Community Policing<\/a> strategies precisely to serve this goal of enhancing Public Safety<\/a>. A recent report concluded there are on average 35. 5 fewer crimes committed per 10,000 people in sanctuary counties than there are in nonsanctuary counties. The policies of the january 25 executive order on interior enforcement are already having a devastating Chilling Effect<\/a> on reporting of criminal activity. In denver, City Attorney<\/a> chris tin reported that four Domestic Violence<\/a> victims informed her office they no longer wanted to press charges. In los angeles, the police chief say reports of Domestic Assault<\/a> have dropped since the beginning of the year. Less than three weeks after the president issued the executive order, ice agents arrested an immigrant woman. The result fear of reporting spread like wildfire. Domestic violence shelters in highly diverse areas reported a large drop in the number of women coming in for services. One of our clients who years ago called the police and cooperated with Law Enforcement<\/a> after being brutally beaten by her husband while she was pregnant recently said, i needed help. And at that time, it was not like now. You believed the police were there to help you. Not that they would come to deport. Now i would think they would just come and deport me because thats what my husband was telling me and thats what were hearing everywhere. Thats what were seeing now even though i did not commit any crime. I hope your concern spreads to all victims, including immigrants and those victimized by United States<\/a> citizens. I trust you will direct your outrage toward strengthening laws and pursuing policies that will actually protect our societys most vulnerable individuals. The difficult truth is these will not effectively prevent crime. I urge congress to avoid crafting policies that seem like they could enhance safety, but will in fact have exactly the opposite impact. Thank you. Thank you very much. I see the chairman of the full committee is here and without objection, i will recognize him for ten minutes for his Opening Statement<\/a> and his questions. Without objection, the gentleman from virginia is recognized for ten minutes. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman, for your forbearance. I want to thank all the witnesses for their testimony today. When the Obama Administration<\/a> sailed off, it left in its wake a systematically dismantled Immigration Enforcement<\/a> infrastructure. Through socalled priorities defined by the president , not congress, the administration dramatically scaled back Immigration Enforcement<\/a> and allowed millions of unlawful and criminal aliens to remain in the country free of consequence. By terminating successful programs, including secure communities, the administration perm permitted, if not encouraged, sanctuary city practices and policies. This left us with an immigration system more broken, more dysfunctional, and far friendlier to those that flagrantly disregard our nations Immigration Law<\/a>s, especially criminal aliens. The effects of eight years of not so benign neglect of Immigration Enforcement<\/a> will be felt for many years. Earlier this month, two students at Rockville High School<\/a> in rockville, maryland, brutally raped and attacked a fellow student. They entered the country as unaccompanied alien minors from Central America<\/a> likely drawn here by the Obama Administration<\/a>s policy by releasing such ale yiens to the relatives in the United States<\/a>. This was a tragedy both because of the impact on the young girls life and it could have been prevented by sensible Immigration Enforcement<\/a>. School districts around the country are suffering a gang epidemic fueled by the Obama Administration<\/a>s policies. In this case, illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. Foolhardy jurisdictions continue to pass legislation and implement policies aimed at stymying immigration and Custom Enforcement<\/a> officers from enforcing the law. In discussing this initiative, the Council Member<\/a> likened ice officers to nazis several times. Such rhetoric is reprehensible creating a moral equivalent between genocide and a nation exercising a fundamental right and obligation of sovereignty. It is especially ironic given that the United States<\/a> has long had the most generous immigration system in the world. In a deeply troubling move, San Francisco<\/a> even announced that it would no longer participate in the joint Terrorism Task<\/a> force because of concerns that the task forces duties may coincide with Immigration Enforcement<\/a>. Sanctuary policies often focus on ice detainers. Notices issued by ice to allow it to take custody of aliens in Law Enforcement<\/a> custody to initiate removal proceedings. The Trump Administration<\/a> is issuing a weekly report of declined detainers nationwide. During the first week of the administration, 206 detainers were not honored nationwide, leading to the release of aliens who were arrested for or convicted of sex assaults, gr t aggravated assaults, arson, robbery, and other crimes. On january 25th, the president signed two executive orders aimed at securing our nations borders and strengthening interior enforcement of our Immigration Law<\/a>s. These executive orders nudge the rutter of this massive ship in the right direction. Im encouraged that the new administrations enforcement priorities include all aliens who are threats to Public Safety<\/a> and National Security<\/a> and restores the secure communities program. Just yesterday attorney general sessions announced that sanctuary cities will be ineligible for Justice Department<\/a> grants. Border has b dramatic. Yet while this is encouraging, many thousands still make the dangerous trek across the border in order to turn themselves in and game our asylum system. It is no secret that credible fear and asylum claims have been rubber stamped with claim manhattans released with Work Authorization<\/a> as they await their hearings, some now scheduled for 2021. I applaud the president for addressing bogus credible claims in the executive order. As much as i am encouraged by what the new administration is doing within the current statutory framework, it also desperately needs new statutory tools to enforce the Immigration Law<\/a>s. Over the past two congresss, this committee has approved such measures to provide such tools to the administration, including that unaccompanied minors are returned home, that the federal government will work with local jurisdictions that want to provide assistance in enforcing Immigration Law<\/a>s, that sanctuary cities will lose federal funds, and to allow for the detention of dangerous aliens. Sheriff hodgson, welcome. I appreciate your testimony. I wonder if you could tell us what value do you see in involving local Law Enforcement<\/a> in Immigration Enforcement<\/a>. Thank you, congressman. It is imperative that we participate in local Law Enforcement<\/a>. One of the things that President Trump<\/a> made very clear in one of his recent speeches to the sheriffs was, look, we recognize that you all have your boots on the ground. You have the information, the intimate relationships with the gang activities and the things that are going on, the intelligence we get through the prisons. These are very important aspects of us working with our federal partners. If we didnt learn anything after 9 11, by the fact we needed to strengthen our relationships with our federal partners to prevent the citizens of our communities from being victimized look, we just had a woman, a 19yearold woman, whose father had been deported twice, came over the day before fathers day. She got out of her car and shot and killed her right there in her home. These things are happening all over the country. We need to be able let me interrupt because ive got a limited amount of time and the chairman has been very generous. Do you consider state and local Law Enforcement<\/a> to be competent in the enforcement of Immigration Law<\/a>s . Absolutely. I think the bill should be passed. Let me turn to ms. Vaughan. Last week the department of Homeland Security<\/a> released its report. The report demonstrated in one week period january 28th through february 3rd there were 206 instances of detainers not honored. What does this say about concerns for Public Safety<\/a> in these jurisdictions and what else can either the administration or congress do to discourage sanctuary policies . Well, i think that report validates the concerns that people have had about sanctuary policies and that the beneficiaries of sanctuary policies are the criminal aliens who get sent back to our community. And i hope that the public will hold their leaders accountable for those policies now that they have that information. In addition to denying funding, i think that in some cases there are going to be diehard sanctuary jurisdictions that want to keep their policies anyway despite their lack of funding. They want to be martyrs over it. The department of justice is going to have to take legal action against those jurisdictions, potentially seeking an injunction. There may be cases where it would be appropriate to even prosecute local officials who deliberately and knowingly harbor an illegal alien from detection and from deportation. Thank you. Mr. Arthur, your written testimony discusses a regulation governing confidentiality of asylum information and dramatically limiting thirdparty disclosure. Does this limitation extend to investigators looking for fraud and interNational Security<\/a> concerns and what can the administration and congress do to aid ice or another Government Agency<\/a> to attempt to verify information with a home government . It does. There are very strict limits, but one of the main things it does is it prevents the information thats provided in the asylum application from being verified with the home country. There are ways to probably the best thing to do would be to amend the regulation to make it clear that biographical information can be verified with the home country, but the fact that the individual has actually aapp applied for asylum cannot. That would be the best way to deal with it. Thank you. Ms. Pyati, you refer to communities that have Community Trust<\/a> policies. Would you say Montgomery County<\/a> maryland, where Rockville High School<\/a> is located and is a sanctuary jurisdiction, whether that countys Community Trust<\/a> policy protected that 14yearold girl . First, i want to start by saying what happened to the 14yearold girl is a tragedy. None of us would have ever expected that to happen and feel horribly sorry for her. Wouldnt it have been better if those two boys never arrived in Montgomery County<\/a>, maryland . Your first question was whether Community Trust<\/a> policies were a part of it at all and the answer is no. The boys had no criminal record whatsoever before, had never been picked up by Law Enforcement<\/a>, and a Community Trust<\/a> policy had nothing to do with what happened that day in that school. Im sorry, but its a violation of the law to cross our border. So werent they illegal present in the United States<\/a> . They did violate the law by crossing our border. Werent they turned over by the Previous Administration<\/a> to in one case a parent . What happened at the border when they entered is very different than what happened in rockville, maryland. Your question to me was in rockville, maryland, could a defunded sanctuary policy, for example, have prevented the rape and the answer to that is no, i think. I think what happened there is the enforcement of our laws would have prevented the rape, would it not . My time is expired. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. The chair recognizes himself for five minutes. Let me begin by making a statement. The whole issue of sanctuary cities is something that is very disturbing because it is an attempt by those jurisdictions to nullify federal law and to say that federal law does not apply in the sanctuary city. Now this country suffered probably the worst trauma in its history when certain states over 150 years ago decided they had to power to nullify federal law, and there were over half a Million People<\/a> that were killed during the civil war. And i think that the horror of that has been forgotten. Secondly, you know, im very disturbed by saying that there are certain types of federal laws that state and local Law Enforcement<\/a> do not enforce. I guess i can say that robbing a bank is a federal offense, and i dont think that state and local Law Enforcement<\/a> wait for the fbi to come to respond to the bank and try to catch the people who are committing a federal felony in the process of trying to clean out the banks till. Now having said that statement, let me ask you, ms. Vaughan. Under current Immigration Law<\/a>, drunk driving is typically not a removable offense is neither is most gang activities. Would you favor a change to make those offenses removable so that it is very clear Gang Activity<\/a> and being convicted of a dui would be a removable offense . Absolutely. Of course anyone who is in the country illegally is potentially subject to deportation whether theyve been driving drunk or not. But i do think immigration officers and agents need better tools within the ina to make it easier to accelerate the removal of those individuals and to protect the communities. I know that in my district theres been at least one real major tragedy where a van of a family going to church ended up being hit by a drunk driver and some, but not all of them, were killed. It was a family tragedy that could have been prevented. How about Gang Activity<\/a> . You know, we have a lot of people who have been claiming that theyre fleeing groups like ms13 as they arrive at the border. Do any of the witnesses know if there are any people who have made such a claim for asylum that have ended up rejoining ms13 once they get across the border . From what i understand and have been told by some local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies, there have been instances that they have learned from gang members who are now incarcerated that of course not all the youths who have been crossing illegally from Central America<\/a> are involved with gangs, but the gangs here know that the policy is so lenient that if someone who is a minor makes it to our border, that they will be allowed to resettle in our country with very few questions asked. So they have deliberately taken advantage of that policy and used it to boost their ranks in the United States<\/a> in order to benefit the United States<\/a> as a whole, so that definitely is happening. Thank you. My time is running out. Ms. Pyati, in your written testimony, page 1, you say your center advocates for laws and policies that help immigrant survivors of violence, including sexual and Domestic Violence<\/a>. Do you advocate for victims such as the rockville teen . Absolutely i do. Thats good to know. How do you do that . How do we do that . We do have offices in a number of cities around the country, four different cities. Were opening a fifth. Our work is to meet with victims, understand their situation, hear their stories, know if they are eligible for any form of immigration remedy in this country, interview them extensively to find out if they in fact have a credible claim and one that might survive the law, and if so, offer them free Legal Assistance<\/a> to enter their claim into the add juddificatju system. We have both social workers and lawyers on our staff. We would definitely offer that kind of counsel to somebody who came to us. So you arent proactive in seeking out and offering those types of services. The victim and the victims family have to come to you rather than you going to them. We conduct outreach in the community to be sure that individuals know that we are there, where our offices are, what kinds of services we provide. The majority of people who seek our services have heard about us through word of mouth as well as through our outreach efforts. Thank you very much. Gentlewoman, ms. Lofgren. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Just a couple of observations. You know, i think its a mistake to use the tragedy on 9 11 where 19 saudis during the Bush Administration<\/a> entered legally the United States<\/a> with visas and then brutally attacked and killed americans with reason to deport nannies and farm workers in 2017. The two do not compute. Just in terms of the sanctuary city issue, you know, theres no definition really of what a socalled sanctuary city is, but 8usc1373 which originated out of this committee before it became law does not require localities to hold people who are otherwise to be released to detain them, nor does it require states and localities to collect information. That would be beyond the authority of the federal government to commandeer states and localities to do that. Im wondering, ms. Pyati, the detainers that were outlined in the detainer outcome report, in jurisdictions where the controlling federal court ruling such as the Fourth Circuit<\/a> has said compliance with those detainers is an unconstitutional violen violation of the Fourth Amendment<\/a>, what exposure who a locality have . Thank you for your question, congresswoman. Certainly the local jurisdiction has complete exposure. The federal courts have ruled that detainers that hold individuals after they have been released or could be released by the criminal system for civil law infractions such as Immigration Law<\/a> infractions are its a seizure that goes well beyond the 48 hours often, and that constitutes a violation under the Fourth Amendment<\/a>. They absolutely would have full and complete exposure there. Just a couple of other observations and then maybe a question. Clearly, the Police Chiefs<\/a> and the Police Officer<\/a>s who i know in my in the district i represent are against criminals. I mean, thats why theyre in police work. Thats why they are called to do that. In santa cruz recently, there was an effort the sheriff actually sent his officers out with i. C. E. Agents because they were going to do an antiGang Activity<\/a>. And what he found out, at least what the Law Enforcement<\/a> official said is hell never deal with i. C. E. Again. Instead of doing an antiGang Activity<\/a>. They did general immigrant enforcement. Now they cant get immigrants to call in to report crimes. They cant get people to be witnesses. So i do think the distinction between federal and state obligations is an important one, even though we often use for example, dui was an enforcement priority under the Obama Administration<\/a>. If you had a dui, you were going to be deported under the Obama Administration<\/a>. So i guess the question is, what is that distinction . Ive had complaints out of california that i. C. E. Agents are putting the word police on their jackets, even though theyre not police, and the police are greatly concerned about this because it muddies up whos doing what. Do you think theres when we talked to the secretary of Homeland Security<\/a> about this issue and plaexplained that the sheriff in los angeles and the Police Department<\/a>s all over in california are complaining about this, he said just said he didnt care. What are your thoughts on that, ms. Pyati . Do we have an opportunity, do you think, to remedy this . Would this be a problem with i. C. E. Agents having police on their jackets when it comes to Domestic Violence<\/a> and Sexual Assault<\/a> cases . I appreciate your question, congresswoman. Certainly i think anytime we comingle local Law Enforcement<\/a> with Immigration Enforcement<\/a> were in a very dangerous game. There are definitely officers wearing vests that say police, and it doesnt make clear that were talking about Immigration Police<\/a> wandering around in the streets. We saw this at times in the Obama Administration<\/a>. And were seeing it now in this administration. What we see is when people in the community lets say in a home and afraid, im not going to pick up the phone and call 911 when im not sure who is going to show up at my door. What i need to be sure of is when my child is watching me being hurt, when i call 1911, i were going to find safety. If im too scared to call 911 because im worried that because of who i am, where im from, what my National Status<\/a> is or the color of my skin im not going to get fair treatment from my local police, then all of us are less safe. My time is expired and i yield back. The gentleman from texas, mr. Smith. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, many members of congress and as far as that goes many members of the media often say immigrants are no more likely to commit crime than other individuals, but that in my view is a misleading statement because they dont distinguish between Illegal Immigrants<\/a> and legal immigrants. When you look at the crimes committed by Illegal Immigrants<\/a>, you find that 35 of the individuals sentenced for federal crimes are immigrants. 35 . Illegal immigrants are 3. 5 of the population, so that means they are ten times more likely to be sentenced for a federal crime than other legal residents. Ten times. And thats why we say rightfully Illegal Immigrants<\/a> are disproportionately dangerous to innocent americans and dangerous to our communities and dangerous to our neighborhoods. Sheriff hodgson, let me address my first question to you, and thank you for your strong testimony on sanctuary cities. 30 of those who are released, the criminal immigrants that are released back into our communities, are rearrested for another crime. And the fact that we have Law Enforcement<\/a> officials sworn to uphold the law intentionally releasing these individuals into our communities really makes me think theyre an accessory to the crimes that these Illegal Immigrants<\/a> go on to commit. It is just inkeexcusable. What should the federal government do about the sanctuary jurisdictions that intentionally release these dangerous individuals back into our communities . Thank you. Thank you, congressman. What i believe they should do is in those instances we cannot say the elected officials that have taken the same oath we have can decide which laws we follow or not. In those instances where theyre intentionally harboring people that are here illegally, they should have federal warrants issued for them. No ifs, ands, or buts. Welcome back. A question for you. What programs are most abused by Illegal Immigrants<\/a> to try to wrongfully stay in the United States<\/a> . Anecdotely, asylum is probably the number one source of fraud in the system. Part of the problem, mr. Smith, is the fact that there are no hard and fast studies on fraud in the system. Gao did an analysis back in 2002 in which they found that nobody could really estimate how much fraud there was. Don, who was the head of fdns, testified before this committee back in the 113th congress, i think it was, and indicated that a study had been undertaken that had found a fairly significant amount of fraud, but that it had never been completed for various reasons within cis. There is fraud. There are other forms of fraud, but just based on the number of creditability determinations or adverse creditability determinations and application it would be asylum. Do you think its a major problem or a minor problem, the degree of fraud . I would always do a creditability determination in every case that i did. In every asylum decision that i issued whether i granted or denied. I would guess that probably in a fairly large number of those cases i made adverse creditability determinations that were sustained by the board of immigration appeals in the Third Circuit<\/a> where i sat. Last question. Ms. Vaughan, what are the three policies you feel would be most effective in keeping criminal immigrants off of our streets and out of our neighborhoods . I think the most effective policy would be first of all for i. C. E. To make better use of the accelerated form of due process. I. C. E. Agents and officers need to be empowered to use detention as the law allows, and i think that we need to take action against the sanctuaries because theyve been releasing 1,000 criminal aliens a month for years now. We know that they go on to reoffend, and its a significant Public Safety<\/a> problem. Over 30 are rearrested for additional crime. I have heard even higher over longer periods of time. Thank you, ms. Vaughan. The gentleman from michigan, mr. Conyers. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I thank the witnesses. Let me turn to the chief of policy and programs at the Justice Center<\/a>. Ms. Pyati, many of the witnesses on this panel have argued that Community Trust<\/a> policies encourage lawlessness and create an environment where undocumented immigrants are allowed to commit acts of crime, violence, and terror. Whats your response to such a claim as that . Thank you, congressman. My response is quite simply that when we talk about socalled sanctuary cities and those communities, we have to be very clear that the more than 600 jurisdictions that have adopted these types of policies have adopted a very wide range, and so it would be really impossible to say that they all are engaging in one type of practice or another. Some of the jurisdictions are 100 cooperating, but they also offer protections for those who might call 911 or come into the emergency room seeking lifesaving emergency services, so the range of policies is really quite dramatic. It would be very difficult for us to try to make any generalizations about what could be happening on a level with crime in all of these jurisdictions and make some sort of statement that it is making us all less safe. I think that is an unfair characterization and one that will leave more criminals on our streets if were not careful. Now be your experience, do you think immigrants are more likely to commit crimes in areas with Community Trust<\/a> policies . I dont know, congressman, honestly that anyone has measured whether there is a likelihood of committing crime in a certain area or not. I do think our likelihood of catching criminals and actually keeping communities safe, especially at preventing crime, is much higher in a community that has a Community Trust<\/a> policy. Local Law Enforcement<\/a> officers know what theyre doing, and they know that when they are trying to keep a community safe, making sure that when they walk around town, when they go to community events, when they patrol apartment buildings, when they are speaking with members of their town, that they are getting real information. When they say who is likely to be committing an offense, who is a criminal in your neighborhood, they need that information from the community in order to be able to make arrests and watch for crime and protect its citizens and noncitizens in the community. If there is a barrier put up between local Law Enforcement<\/a> and the community, theres no way for them to do their job effectively. I dont think we can effectively measure in fact, if i may, congressman, how much crime has honestly been prevented by these Community Trust<\/a> policies. It would be hard to say. Thousands of crimes, for example, didnt happen because people called the police and trusted the police. Its much easier to pick out the one or two crimes we have seen across america and really shine a light on those than it is to really weigh the benefit of these Community Trust<\/a> policies. We can only take our Law Enforcement<\/a> officers word for it. Yes. Thank you. Last question is my infamous threeinone question, three questions in one. Have you worked with Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies on strategies to combat Domestic Violence<\/a> . What specific challenges have these agencies shared as it relates to criminal arrests and prosecution within the immigrant community . And finally, how do you think the Trump Administration<\/a>s approach to withhold federal funds will impact on these local Law Enforcement<\/a> efforts . And ill be happy to repeat any of them if necessary. I dont think youll need that. I did take notes, congressman. Thank you. Our organization does definitely work with local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies across the country, and i know many other organizations like ours do as well. What we do is we communicate with local Law Enforcement<\/a>. We provide training on Immigration Law<\/a> and how to recognize victims in the community. We also work with them to identify different cultural barriers that might exist between local Law Enforcement<\/a> officers and members of a community so they make break down those barriers and find ways to get critical Vital Information<\/a> from those in the community. Some of the specific challenges weve learned involve a number of those that i cited earlier as challenges that the victims face. So its a twoway street whether it be language barriers, cultural barriers. Many undocumented immigrants come from environments in other countries where trusting Law Enforcement<\/a> is not smart, where when you talk to a Police Officer<\/a> as a rape victim, for example, you might yourself be revictimized. So to say to a woman, as i have had to, honestly these armed and uniformed Police Officer<\/a>s are here to help you takes a lot of courage. Not on my part. It takes a lot of courage for the victim to look at me and believe me and trust me and want to work with local Law Enforcement<\/a>. So those are the challenges we have heard from Law Enforcement<\/a> officers. Weve also heard about those who prey on immigrant communities. We have heard about from local Law Enforcement<\/a> officers. We have heard about people who hold themselves out to be either legal representatives or members of the government. Since the Trump Administration<\/a> has come into power, there are a the executive orders have actually led to a sense of mistrust and fear in the community, but its also led to a number of people standing outside apartment buildings, for examp example. In one community i have heard this. I have heard this from several actually saying we are from immigration and were here to ask you questions. Wed like to see your papers. Then you have people trying to steal identity and try to take information from lawabiding members of the community, so specific challenges Law Enforcement<\/a> faces involve really policing in a cooperative way in communities that historically have not felt included in Law Enforcement<\/a> efforts. And the Trump Administration<\/a> honestly i think coupled with the actual executive orders that came in january coupled with rhetoric on the campaign trail have led to a sense of fear among community members. Also a sense of confusion. What are our rights . Where can we go for help . Who can we call . Advocates have been calling us from around the country asking us, if a victim tells me shes been raped several times by her husband and hes actively beating her, do we tell her to t call the Police Important<\/a> or not. We dont know. The gentlemans time has expired. Congressman biggs. Its important. I appreciate all the panelists for being here. One of our panelists recently indicated that one or two crimes we shouldnt focus on one or two crimes that we have seen across america. And yet in one recent 15month period in maricopa county, 3,600 violent criminal aliens were released back onto the streets of the states largest county. We know they were criminally violent because they had been in the system charged and convicted of crimes and yet they were released without being deported. I appreciate particularly ms. Vaughan mentioning a case where a 21yearold Convenience Store<\/a> clerk had been brutally shot and killed for failing to deliver a pack of cigarettes to a criminally violent illegal alien who had been convicted and yet was on the streets of maricopa county. Thats why i introduced grants law that should pass here in congress. It is a nobrainer. I want to talk specifically with regard to you, ms. Vaughan, with regard to the apprehension rates reported. If we were to look at the apprehension rates historically, wed see that there were consistently over a Million People<\/a>, sometimes more than 1. 5 Million People<\/a>, actually apprehended at the border, and that began to slow down in 2006 or 2007 was the first time reported apprehensions began climbing below 1 billion, but all experts talk about Border Apprehensions<\/a> and this is the southern border versus the Multiplier Effect<\/a> of people who cross and remain in the country. Those numbers have been the lowest number ever reported was opined by several senators to be four times the actual apprehension rate. More than half were other than mexican nationals coming into this country. So i guess my question for you is if you would please comment on the multiplying effect and whether the numbers were accurate for that tenyear period under the Obama Administration<\/a> where we saw the apprehension rate dip as low as 330,000 in 2015, whether that was accurate and how that in the reporting, please. Unfortunately, the Border Patrol<\/a> does not have full Situational Awareness<\/a> to know that important number of who was not apprehended. There was a very credible study that was done, commissioned by dhs, that found in 2015 the estimated apprehension rate of people trying to cross illegally was only 54 . So that suggests that theres at least one person succeeding for every one whos caught. This is and theres also a low apprehension rate of people trying to enter illegally at the legal ports of entry, people gettige getting through in car trunks or as imposters or whatever. And most concerning there is a high rate of people who are caught by the Border Patrol<\/a>, but who are allowed to enter anyway either because of policies or because of the prioritization policy where they were told to let people go if they had claimed to have been here before january 2014. On the head of the national Border Patrol<\/a> council has said at that time he estimated that the Border Patrol<\/a> agents were letting 80 of the people they encountered stay in the country. Thank you. We previously talked about drunk driving and gang membership being disqualifiers for remaining in this country. I want to relate the story of brandon mendoza, a Police Officer<\/a> who was driving in 2014, march of 2014, almost exactly two years ago when an illegal alien who had been apprehended at least three times, once committing crimes in colorado, was had an illegal blood alcohol limit over tlhree times the limit in arizona, and h and drir driven the wrong way on the freeway. The gentlemans time has expired. Will he ask his question . Do you think this has a Chilling Effect<\/a> on Community Participation<\/a> of reporting of crimes . I dont think so. I believe that the crimes that are happening in our communities, if illegals are not going to report those crimes, its no different than what happens in america with criminals, people who have done something wrong. I dont understand why people have a problem with people feeling afraid they have done something wrong in this country. If you have done something wrong, you should feel afraid and you should be concerned if you have violated the laws. I dont think any more than anyone else in the country if you have done something wrong, there will be people who wont come forward. There are those who will. These things are happening in every community throughout the United States<\/a>. Thank you very much. Gent gentlewoman from washington, ms. Jayapal. Sorry, mr. Chairman. Im here. I call on people in the order in which they appear for the committee. Ms. Jayapal appeared before you. I was here when everybody started. I yield. Okay. I know you dont want to hear from me, but i was here. Im always happy to hear from you. Then you should call in regular order. I listened to all four of the witnesses. I have here for all their testimony. I just got a list from the staff on who appeared in order. They must have made a mistake. The gentleman from illinois is recognized for five minutes. Would you please reset the clock . Thank you. So you get it all. I want to make sure. We can talk about the sensenbrenner bill to start. Maybe we should start right there. It was so popular you dont even want to talk about it, but lets go on to some other stuff. Number one, here we go again. Doesnt change. Ms. Vaughan, shes always here. Shes a regular. She would be out of a job if we fixed this problem and we can fix this problem. Sheriff, they kind of rotate the sheriffs who say what you say all the time. Judge, youre a new experience here. Thank you for the advocacy for our immigrant community. Were not here to solve a problem. Were here to say immigrants are drunk drivers, murderers, rapists, and gang members because it doesnt change, but that shouldnt surprise us since we had a president who said all mexicans are murderers, rapists, and drug dealers. The gentleman from illinois will comply with the rules in referring to the president. Ill say donald trump. Is that okay . No, its what you said whether its president or donald trump. He did say it. The gentleman will comply with the rules and not cast aspersions on the president because those are the rules of the house and the gentleman from illinois knows that. Let me repeat that. We have a president of the United States<\/a> who said and i can bring the Youtube Video<\/a> that mexicans are murderers, rapists, and drug dealers. Lets move on. It doesnt really surprise me the conversation were having here. Its not looking for a solution. Its looking for a demonization of people in a community. We dont want to resolve this problem just like we dont want to resolve the Health Care Issue<\/a> in this country. We want to make a political point about the Health Care Issue<\/a> in this country. If we wanted to resolve it, we could do it. What we have here is people that say how do we expect to restore western civilization with other peoples babies. Thats what we have members of congress saying, and thats part of what goes on here. Its a demonization. Its other peoples babies. Its this constant i have to say the president is playing one big role in all of it because, you see, today there are millions, at least 5 million, american citizen children who live in fear of their federal government. Live in fear of their federal government because people go around calling their moms and dads murderers, rapists, killers, drug dealers, and drunk drivers. Shame on us for not responding. You know what those murderers, rapists, do every weekend now under this administration . They go see lawyers so they can prepare in the eventuality theyre deported and separated from their american citizen children. Thats what theyre doing, filling out guardianship papers, filling out who is going to get the car, how do you deal with the house. What family is going to be there . Shame on us for not resolving this problem and leaving a legacy of abuse against those 5 million since everybody wants to talk about the undocumented, which you call illegal, right, i want to talk a minute about those who are here legally in this country, those american citizen children, and thats what we do. So we sit by smugly and we talk about 9 11, but we have a muslim ban and they didnt even include saudi arabia in the muslim ban. Yet last time i checked every last person that attacked this country was from saudi arabia. You know what it is . Its politics because also they want to make us afraid of who. The muslims, so they have a muslim ban. They call mexicans one thing, muslims one thing. Then they say were going to leave the gay people around until they decided the Transgender Community<\/a> would be one that were going to attack. Thats whats going to happen here. We could resolve this problem because i happen to know for a fact there are over 60 members of the Republican Caucus<\/a> who today would vote for a comprehensive Immigration Reform<\/a> bill, today. But were not allowed to vote for that bill. You know what evidence i have . Check last week. Why . Because you have radicals on that side of the aisle who say we will not allow there to be a vote on an issue, so they withdrew their own immigration bill. Thats why we cant do this. We could deal it with in the senate. We had 68 senators come together in the summer of 2013 to help solve this problem, and how could we do it . Its quite easy. We could do it. Because what you do is see, what we all know, sheriff, heres what we all know. The resources do not exist of the federal government to pick up, jail, and deport 11 Million People<\/a>. You know what they can do . Insist on bringing fear to those people. Shame on all of us. The time of the gentleman has expired. He can see the clock up there like all the rest of us. And mr. Chairman, you took at least 15, 20 seconds admonishing me. No, if you were listening to me, mr. Gentleman from illinois, i reset the clock. You reset it one time, but not during the second intervention. Ed, theres a video of this. Okay. Okay what . Now you know why we have difficulty reaching an agreement. Mr. Chairman . Mr. Chairman . Mr. Chairman . Mr. Chairman . I ask unanimous consent that mr. Gutierrez be given an additional minute. Objection. The gentleman from iowa, mr. King, is recognized. I was watching that clock and you did reset it out of courtesy. There was a complete and utter rebuttal of mr. Ambiguigutierre statement on november 8th. They said we want our laws enforced and we want our streets safe. I want to point out in your testimony on introduction it says the human costs and emotional impact of crimes committed by illegals is beyond measure. Can you explain that . In one community in massachusetts, in milford, massachusetts, there were three People Killed<\/a> by illegals in the Small Community<\/a> of milford. Were seeing these situations happening all over the country. Theres nothing wrong with us enforcing the laws that are on the books. You cant ask Law Enforcement<\/a>, look, if there are members of the legislature that want to change the laws in massachusetts, come here and lobby congress, but dont tell us we have to violate our oath and allow the citizens were protecting to be exposed to greater risks. Thats whats happening. You pointed out also the Facebook Post<\/a> that gave a heads up that i. C. E. Agents were coming into the community. So i opened up the federal code here, 8usc134. I want to ask you and others what you think about prosecuting under this. That individual or any individual this and this is 8usc134. Any person who conkecealonceals harbors, or shields from protection, or any person bwho attempts, harbors, or shields from protection someone coming to the United States<\/a> illegally will be in violation of the law and engages in conspiracy is guilty of the violation of this statute, and if they did it for a financial gain, facing a tenyear penalty, if it wasnt for a financial gain, a fiveyear penalty. Sheriff, i know youve looked at that section, i know. Ive been repeating that section because the truth is the law is the law. It is up to five years per illegal alien in the case. I have called for action. The boston mayor said ill use city law to violate and protect these people. My answer to that was act on title 8 section 1324. Well see how popular sargenctu cities will be in this country. I absolutely agree with you, sheriff. There may be cases where we need to prosecute local officials. Did you have this section in mind when you made that statement . Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed. Do you concur with sheriff hodgson . Yes, i do. When a judge takes an illegal alien out the side door of a krou courthouse to avoid i. C. E. , when a Law Enforcement<\/a> agency receives a detainer that gives probable cause to hold a criminal alien and they have information on that individuals crimes, all of those are shielding illegal ialiens from i. C. E. Knowingly. When a judge facilitates that escape from their chairmans, youre referring to this as a means to enforce. Yes, and there are penalties there, especially when that individual who was shielded goes on to cause further harm in the community and potentially creates new victims or does in fact after their releases. We know has happened. These arent isolated cases. There is a means where congress can act on its own without a president ial signature. What im thinking of is the impeachment of such judge. What is your advice to us on that . I dont know the law for setting the standards on impeachment of the judge. We set the laws. So under those terms . That would be an effective deterrent to try to nip this problem. Im not aware of any case law that would advise that. I dont know of any that wouldnt. But one thing i would say, mr. King, i. C. E. Officer to do is a difficult one. And when it is subverted by individuals deliberately im not familiar with this case it makes the job more difficult. Heres the crucial part of that. If its a public place and the officer has the opportunity to make an arrest, generally its a controlled situation. If the officers have to go to the home of that individual, its not a controlled situation anymore. My uncle, my aunt were both Law Enforcement<\/a> officers in the city of baltimore for many years. The worse thing that any Police Family<\/a> can ever hear is that their loved one is not coming home. And if you put if you put an agent in harms way, i dont understand that. Thank you, mr. Arthur. My time and i yield back. The gentlewoman from washington is now recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. And thank you to our panel for being here. I must say i have had a challenge listening to the majority witnesses today. Ive been on a economic Violence Agency<\/a> board for many years and i appreciate the testimony of ms. Peaoti about trying to set the record straight on why we have a division between federal Law Enforcement<\/a> and local Law Enforcement<\/a>. And there is a very specific reason why there are 600 jurisdictions across the country who have actually said the role of local Law Enforcement<\/a> is to enforce Public Safety<\/a>, not to get involved in federal Immigration Law<\/a>s enforcement. And some people dont realize this but i think its worth saying again for anybody who might be watching this hearing and perhaps some of you on the panel. But our federal immigration system is a civil system. It is not a criminal system. It is a federal it is a civil system. So when somebody violates Immigration Law<\/a>s simply for being here without documented presence, that is a civil offense. It is not a criminal offense. And i would like to set the record straight for, i believe it was mr. Smith who was talking about federal sentencing rates. And i just want to be clear about something. Federal sentencing rates are not a reliable indicator of criminal offenses because more than half of federal prosecutions, 52 in 2016 are for immigration related offenses that include illegal entry which is a misdemeanor or illegal reentry which is considered a felony. That has happened over the years as we have criminalized undocumented presence in this country. Instead of passing comprehensive Immigration Reform<\/a>. There is one thing that ms. Vaughn said that i agree with, some things can only be done by congress. Comp hence Immigration Reform<\/a> is one of those things. And in fact we had bipartisan agreement for that comprehensive reform in 2013 where 68 senators agreed that we should pass an Immigration Reform<\/a> bill because they understand the hypocrisy of a country, the hypocrisy of a country that utilizes the labor of immigrants. If you eat fruits and vegetables, you utilize the labor of immigrants. If you stay in hotel rooms, you utilize the labor of immigrants. There are many places in this country that when you wake up in the morning you utilize the labor of immigration. I want to talk about immigration detainers and then ask a question about Domestic Violence<\/a> and victims of crime. The overwhelmings jurisdictions are not violating the law. If vast majority of sanctuary policies, if you look at the constitution, usc 1373 do not prevent citizenship and immigration status from being shared. In fact when we worked on the sanctuary policies in my home state of washington, my prosecutor as well as our local Police Chiefs<\/a> have been terrific about understanding that their mission is to promote Community Trust<\/a> and they can only do that if they pass policies, not enforcing Immigration Law<\/a>, trying to protect Public Safety<\/a>. I wanted to read to you what our association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association<\/a> stated. Immigration laws are very complex and the training required to understand them significantly detracts from the core mission of local police to create safe communities. And recently our county prosecutor published an oped in the Seattle Times<\/a> where he said, from my position as king county prosecutor, this is a prosecutor, i can toll you that these actions have the opposite effect for crime vimctims. And hes talking specifically about all of the immigration orders that the president has signed. Heres what he said. When victims of the crimes are afraid to trust police and the courts, the only winners are violent people. Our top mission is Public Safety<\/a>. This crackdown is an immediate and serious concern for those of us who work to protect our residents. Ms. Peoti, could you tell me, in your opinion, is local Law Enforcement<\/a> qualified to act as immigration agents . The time of the gentlewoman has expired. I dont believe they are. Thank you congresswoman for asking the question. The immigration code is huge. Some compare it to the tax code. Just like i wouldnt ask my doctor to fill out the taxes, i dont want to person in charge of my safety to also be spending his time worrying about the Immigration Law<\/a>. Immigration law should be enforced by the federal government, not by our local police. I would like to introduce for the record the statement from our Supreme Court<\/a> justice on this issue in particular as well as an additional statement from our just that statement. Without objection. Thank you. Gentleman in idaho, mr. Labrador. Thank you, mr. Chairman and thank you for the witnesses here today. Im consistently advocated for some form of Immigration Reform<\/a> and ive specifically advocated by addressing each aspect of the immigration system separately and in order. That makes sense to the American People<\/a>. I believe that before we can address those who are currently here illegally or how to best modernize our visa programs, we must act to make sure our Immigration Law<\/a>s are being enforced. Those who enforce the Immigration Law<\/a>s with the tools and support they need to accomplish their mission. Mr. Arthur, i want to ask you a quick question. As a former immigration judge, is entry into the United States<\/a> without documentation a crime or not. It is a misdemeanor. It is a misdemeanor. I get tired of hearing it is not a crime. It is a crime. Whether you want to enforce the law, we can have that discussion here in congress. But it is a misdemeanor to come into the United States<\/a> illegally. Ms. Vaughn why have the removals declined so much in the last several years . Because of deliberate policies put in place by the Obama Administration<\/a> to greatly restrict the types of cases that i. C. E. Officers could pursue for deportation. And that exempted 99 of illegal aliens who were here. What message does this send to those who would enter our country illegally or who have entered illegally. It sends the message that if you can get here, in all likelihood you wont be subject to deportation. Have we seen a difference in the last few months with the messages and the results at the border . There are some signs according to the statistics released that apprehensions as a number of attempts have dramatically declined over the last three months and the smuggling prices have risen, an indicator that its harder to do now. Mr. Recently mr. Trump tried reverse the actions done by mr. Obama. Congress needs to act to ensure that we will not continue to have dramatic shifts in enforcement policies. I dont want one president to do one thing and another president to do something else. What can congress do to ensure that future president s are not able to yulely alter or change the interior enforcement activities . Any amendment to the immigration act would limit the ability would have language in it that would limit the ability of any future president to do something other than what it is. With respect to inadmissibility, thats the secretary of Homeland Security<\/a> shall take into custody and shall remove for example. You could put mandatory language in the immigration and national act. Im very concerned about the visa yo stays. We need to be able to track them and leave when their visa expires. What road block have you seen to implement a tracking system in. The lack of the federal government to move forward with it. Weve got the entry part at the airports and sea ports done very effectively. But theres not enough interest in completing the system. Sheriff, you discussed your participation in the 287 g program. Was the training your department received sufficient to be able to effectively assist i. C. E. Our people will be going in a couple of months. But i built an immigration detention facility at any complex. So ive been housing illegals for over eight years. Do you have suggestions on how the training could be improved . Do you have anything since youve gone through the system in. The training is incredibly important. The federal government does coffer the cost. Thats the biggest part for any jurisdiction making sure that it is cover. We sugge it would be contrary and i think the Community Needs<\/a> to do this. If were going to suggest we cant work with i. C. E. , what happens to our federal forces. We have people that need to be out there every day sharing the information and making sure we put our best foot forward to get the criminals off of the street. Are those task forces making your community more safe or less safe. More safe. I yield back. Gentlemen from rhode island. Public safety is our responsibility. The polices policies must be protected as theyre vital to Public Safety<\/a> because Law Enforcement<\/a> rely on trust and cooperation from all of their community members, including immigrants to help prevent, solve and prosecute crimes. Local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies are in the best position to decide which policies work best for the individual localities and thats why many cities have adopted policies that allow immigrants to come forward and seek the assistance of the police without fear. The single most powerful tool a local Police Department<\/a> has is the trust and confidence of the community. President trumps immigration crackdown has created a climate of fear and uncertainty thats already begun to undermine Public Safety<\/a>. In an attempt to force local police to do the work of i. C. E. Are making immigrants afraid to leave their homes, go to the grocery store, send their children to school as well as help local Law Enforcement<\/a> in fighting crime. There are reports that Domestic Violence<\/a> and Sexual Assault<\/a> victims are afraid to report the crime for risk of being apprehended themselves. Many suggested that the immigrant community is disproportionately responsible for the crime. I would ask to include two reports, one from the sentencing project that found foreign born citizens create crime less over than the native born citizens and another study comparing incarceration rates by migrat y migratory without objection the material will be included. The report says, and i quote, a few studies using other data sources to differentiate the legal status. Immigrants do not have higher crime states than native born citizens and there are three study to support that. That underline claim is not true. I would ask consent for a letter signed by a number of Law Enforcement<\/a> leaders across the country criticizing the burden of federal Immigration Law<\/a> on to local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies. Without objection that will be included as well. Thank you. I would ask you, hundreds of laurmt agencies throughout the United States<\/a> have adopted Community Trust<\/a> policies. These agencies from michigan to california to ohio report that such policies far from increasing crime actually reduce it. And recent comprehensive studies have supported these claims statistically showing that the Community Trust<\/a>ed jurisdictions are safer than their counterparts. Why is that . Can you help us understand why communities where these trust jurisdictions are protecting our constituents and providing safer communities, less crime, why is that happening . Thank you very much, congressman. You said it yourself. You said the former chief in your jurisdiction indicated its really that trust between the community and the Police Officer<\/a>s that allows for a thorough reporting by victims, it allows for cooperation as witnesses, it allows for investigations into community, you know, knocking on doors and finding the witnesses who want to respond and offer what theyve seen and heard. Theres really no way to prosecute and investigate crime committed by anyone, whether its a citizen, a legal immigrant or an undocumented immigrant. No way to document crime without participation of residents in the community. And so that trust is the number one thing were looking for. And is it you made some reference to an example of a case in which there had been someone who was murdered who without the presence of two witnesses are there other instances that youre aware of around the country where individuals have been either unwilling or unable to come forward because of their immigration status and how do you think the Trump Administration<\/a>s policies are making that more likely or less likely to happen and whats the impact on the safety of our communities as a result . Thank you, congressman. I aim aware of a number of cases around the country that really resonate with what i was sharing earlier. I would say that one of the things that happens is that when a person is afraid to come forward and report crime or share information as a witness, we really our hands are tied behind our back in terms of investigati investigating. We dont have a lot of media reports, for example, about those individuals because, as stated, theyre too afraid to come forward. So we dont get the splash that we might get otherwise in these situations. I do know that in el paso when there was an i. C. E. Pickup of a woman while she was receiving her protection order, a message was sent loud and clear across the country, especially to survivors of violence, if you use the criminal Justice System<\/a> to report the crime committed against you by an abuser, if you per sue what our system is here to offer, safety for you and your family, you could be a victim of arrest by i. C. E. In that moment and popsz bssibly deported. That had a clilg effect that our National Hotlines<\/a> and coalitions across the country that work on Domestic Violence<\/a> have been reporting in the last month and a half or so. Mr. Chairman the gentlemens time has expired. The gentlemen from louisiana, mr. Johnson. Thank you for being here. Sheriff, my first question is for you. Last year i was a state ledge later, in 2016 i coauthored a bill to appropriate sanctuary cities in our state. We were going to penalize them for being able to borrow money unless they complied with the law. What happened down there was a saga. Our democrat governor killed our legislation. They argued that our efforts were political pandering and that this was something that should remain solely a federal issue. I was curious from your perspective as a Law Enforcement<\/a> official on the ground as it were, youre the top Law Enforcement<\/a> official in your county, i know that your state doesnt have such a ban. If such a statute was presented in massachusetts, do you think thats something that would be helpful, a state law to ban sanctuary cities . State law banding the sanctuary cities, yes, absolutely. Look, the bottom line is and i commend you for filing that down in louisiana. The reality is that were basically suggesting that there are certain laws we can enforce and certain laws we cant. Law enforcement cant be put in that position. And its important to point out that our frontier has changed since 1993, when the trade center was hit, in the way we police our communities. Were seeing more gang activities through illegal immigration. And i note that these Police Chiefs<\/a> i think its important for this community to know. Im not going to say all Police Chiefs<\/a> but its important to be mindful of the fact that Police Chiefs<\/a> are appointed by mayors. Sheriffs are not. Our jobs are relying in support of our families based on the political appointments that we get. I think its important for the community to keep that in mind when it comes to measuring what unfortunately many of the chiefs positions that they have and have been put into in. I appreciate you saying that and i wish i had your testimony last year. Anytime you want me to come down. We made the argument, john adams said he was distinguishing our were a nation of laws not of men. And we have to follow those laws. Its important to do that on a local or regional level just as the federal level. Another question. Do you believe theres adequate clib rath ration currently between federal and local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies on addressing illegal immigration . Is there anything we could do to improve the sharing of intelligence . Congressman, i think that theres always more we can do. I think theres some cyber things that we can do through the internet and so forth that could help. In addition to the acceleration of the 287g program, that becomes critically important. Within our prisons, we are the Central Intelligence<\/a> base. The president pointed that out in a recent speech and most would agree with me thats critically important to have that information shared back and forth on an ongoing basis. The extension of the 287g, excacceleration would be great. Can you expand on why its more difficult for the court when asylum and border officials interviews are not electronic . Absolutely. Often what will happen is asylum officers will present what purports to be the statement of the alien. Sometimes its a sum rye zai suf what the al yen said. If in court the alien a confronted with the i. C. E. Attorney with a contrary statement than what was contained in the asylum application, i dont have the asylum officer in front of me and unfortunately i. C. E. Never brings them. To have an electronic statement would allow me to look at that and it would aid in the decision. In your testimony you briefly mentioned how our local Law Enforcement<\/a> agencies have been affected. Im wondering if you can expand on the state criminal alien Assistance Program<\/a> and what changes may need to be made. I think it would be a good idea, more effective to have that reimbursement funding tied to specific cooperation, and that is honoring i. Krichlt c. E detainer. In other words if a jurisdiction is not honoring the i. C. E. , when they become eligible. Thats a simple fix that would be directly relevant to the situation today. Time of the gentlemen has explained. The gentlewoman from texas, ms. Jackson lee will add cleanup. Let me ask a straightforward question that deals with fixing the Immigration Law<\/a>s and allowing individuals to come from out of the shadows and distinguishing individuals who are here opposed to criminals and others who happen to be on status. Mr. Hodgson, would you support comprehensive Immigration Reform<\/a> . Ive been working on that for 20 years. I worked on the first bill that made it through the house. I was probably around at that time. Ms. Vaughn, would you support comprehensive Immigration Reform<\/a>. No. I think it makes much more sense thank you. Let me go on to mr. Arthur. I would probably recommend enforcement of the immigration would you support comprehensive Immigration Reform<\/a>. If you look at the concept of gang of eight, it takes into enforcement. Would you support it . I would have to look at the particulars of the legislation. Yes, congresswoman i would support it. Let me quickly move forward on my questioning. All of us were appalled at the killing of kate stainly and others who have suffered. But if we war to correlate that tragedy to high court work with nonstatus people, San Francisco<\/a> then would have a high murder rate. And as of 2015 there was no rise in San Francisco<\/a>s murder rate in the years that was a sa sanctuary city. The murder rate has fallen to the lowest rate that it has been in decades. A yes or no question, do you think in the context of unstatus that were trying to deport the bad hombres . Is that what your focus would be, the bad ombres . That exactly what the purpose is. Yes or no. There are 2 million in the country and we should make them the top for priority thank you. Mr. Arthur . In my court i would see many individuals for a long period of time, individuals who have committed so you would think that the bad elements should be the top priority, the bad hombres . Unfortunately i saw those people disappear from my court, i dont know why. Yes, i think that we should definitely remove officials who commit serial drunk driving offenses pyati, your view of that . Yes, thank you congresswoman. Im only rushing because i want to ask you a lengthier question. Is your answer yes or no. We should go focus on those with criminal backgrounds. I would like to offer this. Months later after she voted, ro pe roberto and her husband, languishes in a detention facility with hardened criminals as he awaits his deportation back to mexico a country that he left in 1998 when he entered the country illegally. So admitted. And i also for this to any gate any suggestion that the socalled sanctuary is cities label is that cities are not cooperating with the cities. Without objection. And i also request sk to put into the record, this statement in the constitutional lawyers that this is unconstitutional, the order by sessions and the president of the United States<\/a> to penalize cities and deny them their money. I hope one of them will see. I ask unanimous consent. Reserving the right to object, who are these constitutional lawyers. Im losing my time. Ill pull that back. I would like to find out are you going to give me extra time . Just answer my question. Theres a long i list of how many is it . No. There are more than that. 292 and theyre from uc irvine, university of San Francisco<\/a>, denver and smo dedmon school of law. There are 29. I can get the names. Theyre not attached to the letter right now. The ranks member has already put that in the record. Thank you. Will you withdraw your unanimous consent request. Yes, mr. Chairman. May i ask ms. Pyati the question please . I ask the gentlewoman from texas be given an extra minute. Thank you. Im familiar with the center. I think you know marty in texas and weve been close working on it. Its important to reemphasize how lives can be saved when we give the opportunity for individuals who are unstatus to feel free to report threats that not only can jeopardize the lives of if significant other, the spouse, the girlfriend, but the children in that home. Would you explain the women that you have helped, the children who have been involved and how important it is for there to be freedom with that . The gentlewomans time has expired. You may answer the question. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Hello from our texas office where you know we work hand in hand with Houston Police<\/a> to help them to identify and investigate trafficking in the area. Our work there, i think, has been pioneering in attempting to bring trafficking as a crime under some kind of control. I can talk about right now youve asked me to share with you something about a client. We have a client who spoke at a briefing just a few weeks aeg here at the house who shared that a woman, who met her husband overseas. He brought her here to the United States<\/a> and they had a child together. The son is autistic. He was witnessing physical and Emotional Abuse<\/a> in the home and was struggling significantly. She was afraid to contact Law Enforcement<\/a> because her husband continued to say to her, im a citizen and you dont have status. And if you call the police youll be deported and our child will be with me and youre out of luck. So very desperately and nervously she contacted us for help and worked to build up her courage and eventually was able to cooperate with Law Enforcement<\/a> and her husband was removed from the home aloiing the child to flourish and his autism has improved. So we can see not just emotional impact immediately but certainly cognitive and Behavioral Changes<\/a> when abusers are removed from the home and women are able to care for their children in safety. I thank the chairman, i thank the witness. Mr. Chairman . Gentlewoman from california. I would like to ask unanimous consent to put in the record a letter from the chief justice of the california state Supreme Court<\/a> appointed by a republican, i might add, to the department of Homeland Security<\/a> asking that enforcement in courtrooms in california cease. Without objection. Mr. Chairman . Gentlewoman from washington. I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record the oped i referred to from our county prosecutor, also a republican. Without objection. I guess this shows that we republicans arent like the rockettes. This concludes todays hearings. Thanks to all of our witnesses for attending. Without objection all member wills have five legislative day to submit additional written questions to the witnesses or additional materials for the record. And without objection the hearing is adjourned. The senate has advanced the confirmation of judge gorsuch to the Supreme Court<\/a>. The vote was 5544, a simple majority was needed for that vote. The democrats say 60 votes will be needed to confirm judge gorsuch unless republicans change senate rules. Majority leader mcconnell says he plans to hold the final confirmation vote on friday. Follow the senate live on cspan 2. Cspan where history unfolds daily. In 1979 cspan was created as a Public Service<\/a> by americas Cable Television<\/a> companies and is brought to you today by our cable or satellite provider. President trump spoke at a white house town hall meeting with ceos and other Business Leaders<\/a> about some of his initiatives concerning infrastructure, eliminating regulations, education and workforce development. Hes introduced by Vice President<\/a> pence. This is about half an hour. [ applause ] thank you all very much. Thank you, reid. How about another round of applause for that l","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia800603.us.archive.org\/24\/items\/CSPAN3_20170404_211200_Lawmakers_Spar_Over_Immigration_Policy_at_Enforcement_Hearing\/CSPAN3_20170404_211200_Lawmakers_Spar_Over_Immigration_Policy_at_Enforcement_Hearing.thumbs\/CSPAN3_20170404_211200_Lawmakers_Spar_Over_Immigration_Policy_at_Enforcement_Hearing_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240627T12:35:10+00:00"}