Administration Is Not Serious About Immigration Reform

Washington, DC - Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) today issued the following statement regarding the President’s fiscal year 2011 budget proposal:

“The President’s budget proves once again that the Obama administration is not serious about enforcing our nation’s immigration laws. 

"The administration found money for 25 new positions in the Secretary of Homeland Security’s management office, but didn’t find funds for any of the following critical homeland security programs: there is no funding for a single new detention bed, no increase in funds to find and deport immigration fugitives or criminal aliens, no additional special agents to investigate workplace immigration violations, no funding to expand the visa security program, and no funding to build any more of the border fence. 

"The President ought to be using immigration enforcement to address key priorities such as jobs and national security.  But instead of doing so, the Obama administration is maintaining the status quo.  That means that citizens and legal immigrants will be forced to continue to compete with eight million illegal immigrants for jobs; and by underfunding key national security programs, we leave ourselves vulnerable to future terrorists attacks."