News

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 able to deport him back to Haiti due to two Supreme Court decisions that require the release of dangerous illegal and crim

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. - 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.

Chairman Smith:  “I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy. It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products. 

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. 

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary CommitteeChairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the following statement on the Wyden-Issa OPEN Act.

Retains Strong Provisions to Protect American Technology and Consumers

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today said he plans to remove a provision in the Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R. 3261) that requires Internet Service Providers to block access to certain foreign websites.

Washington, D.C. - Obama administration officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today outlined their plan to allow illegal immigrant spouses and children with U.S. citizen relatives to stay in the United States while the federal government decides on their waiver request.  Under current law, illegal immigrants must leave the country before they can ask the federal government to waive the three and 10 year bars on legally coming back to the United States.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below criticizing the proposed change.

Washington, D.C. - According to press reports about a September 2011 Inspector General report, Obama administration officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services are pressuring immigration service officers to approve immigrants’ visa applications quickly even when fraud is suspected.  According to the report, one-quarter of the 254 officers surveyed said they have been pressured to approve questionable cases, sometimes “against their will.”  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below.