Zoe Lofgren: “I agree with the amendment. I would note that the late Henry Hyde signed the letter urging for prosecutorial discretion.…”

“I agree with the amendment. I would note that the late Henry Hyde signed the letter urging for prosecutorial discretion. That is part of the law recognized by the Supreme Court in the Arizona case. I do not believe that the late Henry Hyde would have urged the administration to do something that did not comport with the Constitution or the law, and I include for the Record this letter. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, November 4, 1999. Re Guidelines for Use of Prosecutorial Discretion in Removal Proceedings Hon. Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Hon. Doris M. Meissner, Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Washington, DC. Dear Attorney General Reno and Commissioner Meissner: Congress and the Administration have devoted substantial attention and resources to the difficult yet essential task of removing criminal aliens from the United States. Legislative reforms enacted in 1996, accompanied by increased funding, enabled the Immigration and Naturalization Service to remove increasing numbers of criminal aliens, greatly benefitting public safety in the United States. However, cases of apparent extreme hardship have caused concern.…”