Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help protect the trade secrets of American companies from foreign thieves. The Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act of 2012 (H.R. 6029) helps deter individuals and organizations outside the U.S. from stealing American trade secrets by raising the penalties for those convicted of foreign economic espionage.  

Washington, D.C. - The Obama administration today announced that it will suspend the 287(g) program for all Arizona jurisdictions, a program that allows state and local governments to partner with the federal government to assist in the enforcement of immigration laws.  The 287(g) program has identified tens of thousands of illegal immigrants in jails and prisons nationwide.   The Administration also announced that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials in Arizona have been directed not to respond to the requests from state and local police officers for assistance in enforcing immigration laws unless the individual meets DHS so-called “enforcement priorities.”

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld one of the four provisions challenged in the Arizona’s immigration law (S.B.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent two letters to the Obama administration demanding information on the President’s unprecedented decision to stop deporting and begin giving work permits to potentially millions of illegal immigrants. 

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation to reauthorize provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a law that governs the surveillance of foreign terrorists and spies. The FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 (H.R. 5949) passed the Committee by a vote of 23-11. The bipartisan bill reauthorizes the FISA Amendments Act for five years.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who sponsored the bill, praised the Committee vote.

Washington, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security today announced that it will stop deporting and begin giving work permits to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) criticized the Obama administration’s announcement in the statement below.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) responded to the announcement that Attorney General Eric Holder has appointed two federal prosecutors to investigate recent leaks of highly classified national security information.

Chairman Smith: “Recent leaks of highly classified information pose a serious threat to our national security and put the lives of Americans and our allies at risk. National security experts from both Republican and Democrat administrations have expressed outrage over the leaks and the effect they have on ongoing and future operations. 

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) grilled Attorney General Eric Holder at a hearing today in Washington, D.C. about whether White House officials were aware of ATF’s Operation Fast & Furious, which contributed to the shooting death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The Attorney General appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing on the Justice Department’s activities. Outstanding questions surrounding the controversial ATF operation that allowed guns to be purchased in the U.S. and trafficked to Mexico dominated the Committee’s discussion.