Jordan and McClintock seek ICE interview on immigrant removal policies.

Republican Lawmakers Request Transcribed Interview on ICE’s “Failure” to Enforce Immigration Laws

Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Tom McClintock (R-CA) are requesting a transcribed interview from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement associate director on the agency’s “failure” to enforce immigration laws.

As part of their oversight investigation into the enforcement of federal immigration law, Jordan and McClintock sent a letter to the deputy executive associate director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations requesting an interview. Jordan chairs the House Judiciary Committee, while McClintock chairs the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.

The Impact of ESG on You

The request comes less than a month after the expiration of Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that prevented immigrants from certain countries from entering the United States. Since then, the number of immigrants entering the country from Mexico has decreased significantly, but the rate of “gotaways” has increased, according to a Washington Examiner analysis.

Jordan and McClintock noted in their letter that the removal of illegal immigrants decreased by 68% in 2021 compared to 2020. Removals remained low in 2022, nearly 70% below the three-year average of removing immigrants between 2018 and 2020, according to ICE annual report data cited by the Republicans.

“As the Deputy Executive Associate Director for ICE-ERO, you have information that is relevant and necessary to our oversight of the Executive Branch’s enforcement of federal immigration law,” the chairmen wrote. “Accordingly, we request that you make yourself available for a transcribed interview with the Committee as soon as possible.”

The deputy executive associate director’s name was blacked out of the letter, so it is unknown who will be responding to the request. Jordan and McClintock asked the ICE agent to contact the committee by June 19 to schedule the “transcribed interview.”

This is not Jordan’s first inquiry into ICE’s enforcement of immigration policies. In March, he sent letters to five acting assistant directors within the Enforcement and Removal Operations office highlighting low numbers of deportation and unused detention spaces.

Impact on Southern Border States

Southern border states have felt the pressure of the influx of illegal immigrants in recent years. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has bused over 20,000 immigrants across the U.S. since launching his “border bus mission” in April 2022. Democratic cities such as Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Denver, and Washington, D.C., are among the cities that have received immigrants sent by Abbott.

Abbott has also asked governors from across the U.S. to deploy military and police troops to help Texas with immigration at the southern border. GOP-led states, such as Tennessee, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, and Nebraska, have answered Abbott’s call.

Takeaways:

• Republican lawmakers are requesting a transcribed interview from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement associate director on the agency’s “failure” to enforce immigration laws.
• The removal of illegal immigrants decreased by 68% in 2021 compared to 2020, and removals remained low in 2022, nearly 70% below the three-year average of removing immigrants between 2018 and 2020.
• Southern border states have felt the pressure of the influx of illegal immigrants in recent years, with Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) busing over 20,000 immigrants across the U.S. since launching his “border bus mission” in April 2022.