Dan Coats: “last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--also known as ICE--initiated a precipitous action to reduce the…”

“last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--also known as ICE--initiated a precipitous action to reduce the population of the illegal immigrants detained by the U.S. Government for, they said, ``budgetary reasons.'' Let me quote ICE spokesperson Gillian Christensen, who stated, ``As fiscal uncertainty remains over the continuing resolution and the possible sequestration, ICE has reviewed its detained population to ensure detention levels stay within ICE's current budget.'' So the result was a release of a significant number of detained illegal immigrants and blaming it on the sequester's imminent budget cuts last week, when it appears ICE mismanaged its resources. That is unacceptable. This was an unnecessary action. It has the potential to put communities at risk. It is ineffective, inefficient, and irresponsible government. Let's be clear about something else that ICE points to as a reason for this action, ``fiscal uncertainty.'' Fiscal uncertainty is what has defined our economy over the past 4 years because this government cannot get its act together. This government has failed to define for the American people, whether it is business men or women or whether it is homeowners, or anyone else in this country who is looking to Washington to get its act together, what the future will look like.…”