Ice abandons immigration cases

San Antonio Express-News:

The Homeland Security Department is systematically reviewing thousands of pending immigration cases and moving to dismiss those filed against illegal-immigration suspects who have no serious criminal records, according to several sources familiar with the efforts.

Culling the immigration court system dockets of noncriminals started in earnest about a month ago and has stunned some immigration attorneys in Texas, who've reported coming to court anticipating clients' deportations only to learn the government was dismissing their cases.

Richard Rocha, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman, said Tuesday the review is part of the agency's broader, nationwide strategy to prioritize the deportations of illegal immigrants who pose a threat to national security and public safety.

“Our agency focuses our limited resources on criminal aliens and those who are considered national security and public safety threats,” Rocha said.

Critics assailed the plan as another sign that the Obama administration is trying to create a kind of backdoor “amnesty” program.

...

The critics are right. This is an administration that is ignoring the rule of law and its responsibilities and sworn duty to uphold that law. When it comes to immigration law, this administration is taking a pass, and giving a free pass to illegals. It might as well be sending an invitation to Mexico to come on over.

The senior management of Homeland Security and ICE should all be fired, but unfortunately, they are just doing what President Obama wants and we will have to wait a couple of years to fire him. Republicans elected this fall to replace Democrats should be preparing to have some frank discussions with these people.