In response to the release of hundreds of immigrant detainees in late February, Governor Rick Perry harshly reprimanded the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director, who was the man responsible for the discharge. The ICE has claimed that they had authorized the release of the low-level offenders because that was the best way to deal with budget cuts. The former detainees are allegedly still in the deportation process because the ICE issued them a court-date and expected them to appear. The ICE said that they made sure that those released were not in danger of harming the public, as they were all minor offenders.
The governor wrote the director a letter, in which he denounced the ICE for jeopardizing the safety of Texas residents. He also noted that the ICE had not responded to any of requests that they give information on the released prisoners, such as the number of those released, their home country, and why they were detained in the first place. In an earlier interview with Fox News, Governor Perry had stated that he thought both the ICE and the Obama administration was acting high-handedly, because they did not even bother to communicate with the state governments about this issue. In light of criticisms by Governor Perry and other public figures, the Republican House is considering an investigation of the incident.
The state of Texas has many immigration detainment centers within its border, both public and private. The nationwide budget cuts could also mean decreased security on the border, as a possible 5,000 servicemen may have to be furloughed. With state leaders becoming stricter on immigration policy, it is even more important for those facing immigration issues to contact a Houston immigration lawyer from The Law Office of Tony E. Parada. He has successfully helped individuals with all types of problems, including deportation, naturalization, green cards, and many others. Call our firm today at (832) 681-6383!