Immigration Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Enforcement

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 10:30 a.m., the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee will hold its first hearing of the 115th Congress to examine the need for immigration enforcement. Over 30 years ago, Congress passed and President Reagan signed into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, assuring the American people that it would fix the U.S. immigration system. Americans were promised tougher enforcement in exchange for the legalization of roughly three million people, but these promises were never kept. Under the Obama Administration, interior enforcement deteriorated as it refused to enforce immigration laws, rewrote the law through executive action, and implemented policies that enabled millions of unlawful and criminal aliens to remain in the United States without consequence. The Obama Administration’s policies fueled the surge of Central American unaccompanied minors and families seeking to enter the United States illegally, encouraged more illegal immigration, and jeopardized public safety. While the Trump Administration has reversed many of the Obama Administration’s policies and is vigorously enforcing the law, statutory changes are needed to both provide the administration with the additional tools it needs and to ensure that all future administrations enforce the law. Witnesses for the hearing are:

• The Honorable Thomas M. Hodgson, Sheriff, Bristol County, Massachusetts
• Ms. Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies, Center for Immigration Studies
• Mr. Andrew R. Arthur, Immigration Judge, Retired, Executive Office for Immigration Review, York, Pennsylvania
• Ms. Archi Pyati, Chief of Policy and Programs, Tahirih Justice Center

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) issued the statements below in advance of this hearing. Chairman Goodlatte: “President Trump has taken action to reverse many of his predecessor’s disastrous immigration policies but Congress also has a role to play to improve our nation’s immigration laws. Any immigration reform must start with enforcement first, ensuring that no future president can unilaterally shut down interior enforcement. At next week’s Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee hearing, we will examine the current state of immigration enforcement and how it can be improved in order to prevent illegal immigration and restore the rule of law.” Subcommittee Chairman Sensenbrenner: “Shutting down enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws puts every American at risk, and we simply cannot allow it to continue. The number one priority of Congress must be to protect the safety and security of the American people, and that includes securing our borders. The first step to upholding that responsibility is to assess our current operations and determine where reform is needed and what improvements can be made.” This hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at judiciary.house.gov.  Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.