Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced the appointment of a public advocate to handle complaints and questions about the administration’s immigration enforcement policies. This new position will serve as a point of contact for illegal and criminal immigrants in deportation proceedings as well as NGOs and other community and advocacy groups. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) criticized the creation of this new position in his statement below.
Washington, D.C. - The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday put five deportation cases on hold and asked the government how the illegal immigrants fit into the Obama administration’s immigration enforcement priorities. Last November, the Obama administration announced that it would review the cases of all illegal immigrants who have been ordered deported or are in deportation proceedings to determine whether or not they are a priority for removal.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today praised the decision to expand the E-Verify Self-Check system to every state and territory in the U.S. In 2011, Self Check was launched in 21 states and the District of Columbia and beginning next Thursday it will be made available to all U.S. workers. This component of E-Verify allows U.S. workers to check their work eligibility before they apply for a job.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary CommitteeChairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today pressed the Justice Department to make senior officials available for interviews with the Committee regarding the Department’s knowledge of ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious following the shooting death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010. Specifically, Chairman Smith requested to interview Monty Wilkinson, former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Attorney General, and Lanny Breuer, Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division.
Washington, D.C. - A federal appeals court today overturned President Obama’s controversial recess appointments. The judges ruled that the appointments made to the National Labor Relations Board are illegal, and the board no longer has a quorum to operate. The court also clarified that presidential recess appointment powers only apply after the Senate has adjourned sine die. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) responded to the court ruling in the statement below.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary CommitteeChairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today pressed the Justice Department to produce documents related to the appointments of Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and three individuals to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Washington, D.C. -Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today announced that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on February 15 to examine questions regarding the constitutionality of recent recess appointments by the Obama administration. Chairman Smith released the following statement regarding the President’s recess appointments of Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three individuals to the National Labor Relations Board.
Washington, D.C. - According to a press report, an immigrant from Haiti who was ordered deported by an immigration judge in 2007 for two convicted felonies was released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in October 2010 and went on to kill three Americans in Miami, Florida two months later. This criminal immigrant was released because the Obama administration halted deportations to Haiti in January 2010 and the federal government was not ab
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary CommitteeChairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to the Senate decision to postpone consideration of legislation to help combat online piracy.
Washington, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today released preliminary data on the administrative amnesty pilot programs in Baltimore and Denver which shows thousands of illegal immigrants who are deportable can remain in the United States and apply for work authorization.