Collins statement on Immigration and Customs Enforcement hearing

"I’m not troubled by the expansion of ICE detention to respond to a border security crisis, and I’m not troubled by the need to detain certain individuals, especially criminals, during the removal process. What’s troubling to me is congressional inaction in the face of a crisis. What’s troubling to me are jurisdictions that don’t honor ICE detainers, releasing removable criminals back onto the streets of our communities. What’s troubling to me is rhetoric that paints ICE law enforcement officers as heartless and inhuman."

WASHINGTON — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding today’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hearing. Ranking Member Collins: Here we go again. Another immigration hearing without a bill to solve our border crisis. Another immigration hearing that isn’t focused on solutions to real problems. Another immigration hearing hostile to the administration’s efforts to respond to a crisis in the face of our own congressional inaction. This hearing is titled “The Expansion and Troubling Use of ICE Detention.” Even the title of this hearing reveals Democrats’ hostility towards enforcing our laws and reiterates that Democrats still have their heads in the sand about the border crisis. Let’s talk about the so-called “troubling use of ICE detention.” Apparently, it’s “troubling” to Democrats to turn criminal aliens over to ICE for detention during removal proceedings. In Fiscal Year 2018, 92% of aliens in ICE detention were convicted criminals, had pending criminal charges or were recent border entrants. Convicted criminals made up 66% of ICE arrests, and an additional 21% had pending criminal charges at the time of their arrest. ICE removed 5,872 known or suspected criminal alien gang members in 2018. As of September 14, 2019, ICE reported 15,946 individuals in custody had been convicted of a crime and 5,308 had pending criminal charges. These are individuals who committed crimes like assault, DUI, burglary, sex offenses, kidnapping and homicide. That’s over 21,000 criminals right now who aren’t free on the streets of our communities. I don’t find this troubling — and neither do most Americans. Apparently, Democrats would rather criminal aliens and gang members be endangering families than held in custody. Apparently, it’s “troubling” to Democrats that we detain those who illegally cross our border. About three-quarters of initial intakes into ICE custody are individuals turned over to ICE by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after having recently crossed the border. There were 396,579 illegal border crossings in Fiscal Year 2018. As of August 31, there have been 811,016 illegal border crossings so far this fiscal year, already more than double the previous year. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that, when illegal crossings have more than doubled, the need for detention space might increase. As expected, after three months of decreasing — but still high — illegal border crossing numbers (due to the actions of the Trump Administration), the average daily population has begun to drop. Apparently, Democrats are fine with even more catch-and-release on our border, which is the necessary consequence of failing to expand ICE detention or eliminating it altogether. Apparently, it’s “troubling” to Democrats to ensure removable aliens be detained to complete their immigration hearings. Of course, it is appropriate to release some individuals on recognizance or with an immigration bond, but others — like criminals, recent border crossers and individuals unlikely to appear for court — should remain in ICE custody for the duration of removal proceedings. Apparently, Democrats would rather ICE release anyone they encounter to disappear into the immigration court backlog — if they even show up to court at all. Of all non-detained case completions on the immigration court’s docket, 44% are in absentia removal orders in which the person didn’t even show up to court. Apparently, that’s just fine with Democrats. Apparently, it’s “troubling” to Democrats to detain individuals with final orders of removal in order to actually remove them. The alternative is our law enforcement officers must use precious time and resources, while putting themselves in harm’s way, to find and arrest these aliens. There are about one million outstanding final orders of removal for non-detained individuals in this country. Apparently, Democrats would prefer we ignore those orders. I’m not troubled by the expansion of ICE detention to respond to a border security crisis, and I’m not troubled by the need to detain certain individuals, especially criminals, during the removal process. What’s troubling to me is congressional inaction in the face of a crisis. What’s troubling to me are jurisdictions that don’t honor ICE detainers, releasing removable criminals back onto the streets of our communities. What’s troubling to me is rhetoric that paints ICE law enforcement officers as heartless and inhuman. So, today we will hear that ICE detention isn’t a fun place to be. That may be so, but ICE detention serves a necessary function in enforcing our laws. ICE facilities are also held to some of the highest standards in the correctional industry and are being accredited by third-party corrections agencies. ICE’s Performance Based National Detention Standards ensure many aliens in ICE custody receive higher-quality care than most U.S. citizens receive in state and local jails. The ICE facilities I have seen are clean and well-staffed, and the detainees are treated with respect. High-quality health care is readily available, and, by using contracted detention facilities, ICE is able to provide this high-quality custodial care in a cost-effective manner. Instead of condemning ICE, Democrats should be commending the agency for its high standards, and the key public safety and border security role its officers play.