On the recordJune 1, 2011
This amendment stipulates that none of the funds of this bill may be used in violation of section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Practically speaking, my amendment would prohibit the United States Immigration and Custom Enforcement, ICE, from using taxpayer dollars to process the release, or to administer alternative forms of detention to illegal immigrants who committed a crime which mandates their incarceration under section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Importantly, section 236(c) requires the U.S. Government to detain illegal aliens who have committed any one of the serious crimes detailed in section 236(c) until that illegal alien is deported to their home country. For example, section 236(c) would require ICE to detain an alien that committed arson until that alien is deported. I think this is a very commonsense provision. In fact, in my opinion, criminal illegal aliens shouldn't be in the United States in the first place, but that is a debate for another day. Make no mistake, I want to state that I think the vast majority of ICE employees are great Americans, and I personally appreciate the work that they do to ensure our Nation remains a nation founded under the rule of law. Nevertheless, ICE does not always operate in accordance with section 236(c).…
