Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified at the Senate Judiciary Committee's oversight hearing of the Department of Homeland Security on December 9, 2009, her second Judiciary hearing since taking office. Following are the highlights from Secretary Napolitano's testimony.
Department of Homeland Security's Progress on Immigration
1. Border Security
"Under the Southwest Border Initiative, we have deployed additional technology, manpower, and resources to the border; strengthened partnerships with state and local law enforcement; and created a more robust partnership with Mexico to break apart the criminal infrastructure supporting the drug cartels and prevent similar violence on the U.S. side of the border," which includes:
Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BESTs): Teams that 'work to address border-related crime, including arms trafficking and human, bulk cash, and narcotics smuggling. Since the launch of the Southwest Border Initiative, BESTs have seized over 1,809 pounds of cocaine, 45,889 pounds of marijuana, 571 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 251 pounds of ecstasy, and 17 pounds of heroin. BESTs also have seized 1,361 weapons, 277 vehicles, and $8.2 million in U.S. currency and monetary instruments."
Armas Cruzadas and Other Efforts: "A collaborative, intelligence-driven initiative with the Mexican government to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks that illicitly transport arms across the border. Since the launch of the Southwest Border Initiative, Armas Cruzadas operations have accounted for the seizure of 361 firearms, 38,878 rounds of ammunition, and criminal arrests of 107 individuals. Overall, since its creation in 2008, Armas Cruzadas has resulted in the seizure of 1,890 weapons, 206,412 rounds of ammunition, criminal arrests of 257 individuals, and more than $7.9 million."
Collaboration with Mexico: Includes an increase in staffing support and joint law enforcement, new Border Violence Protocols, the coordination of bi-national inbound/outbound border inspections and narcotics prosecution.
Federal, State, Tribal, and Local Partnerships: Improved coordination between partners to combat drug trafficking and smugglers.
Technology Investments: New technology systems have been deployed to enhance surveillance along both the southern and northern borders.
Northern Border: U.S. Border Patrol presence has been increased and a new National Norther Border Strategy designed to "improve intelligence and information sharing, enhance bi-lateral partnerships, expedite lawful travel and commerce, increase personnel and infrastructure, and enhance investigations of transnational crime" is expected to be drafted by mid-2010.
Impact and Results: In the past year, narcotics seizures have increased 36 percent, outbound currency seizures increased 74 percent and illegal entry apprehensions have declined 23 percent.
2. Enforcing Immigration Laws
"We also have made significant strides in enforcing the law in the interior of the United States, with a specific focus on identifying and removing criminal aliens that pose a threat to the American people."
Targeting Criminal Aliens: The Secure Communities program was expanded, helping to identify more than 111,000 criminal aliens in custody. The Criminal Alien Program "resulted in more than 341,000 interviews of incarcerated foreign-born nationals, and issued over 232,000 charging documents."
287(g) Authority: A new Memorandum of Agreement was put in place in July 2009, which "defines the objectives of the 287(g) program, outlines the immigration enforcement authorities granted by the agreement, and provides guidelines for ICE's supervision of local agency officer operations, information reporting and tracking, complaint procedures, and implementation measures."
Worksite Enforcement: "This year, ICE released new field guidance that formalizes procedures for arrest and removal of illegal workers identified during enforcement actions."
E-Verify: "Over 175,000 employers representing more than 660,000 worksites are currently enrolled in E-Verify, with an average of 1,000 new employers enrolling weekly. Since the start of Fiscal Year 2010, employers have run over 2 million queries through E-Verify." Expansion and improvement of the employment eligibility program continues. "Next year we plan to include passport and visa photos to further increase the system's effectiveness. We also plan to improve system navigation and offer some important features, such as an automated reminder for employers when work authorization documents expire, an enhanced case management system, and improved text and instructions to help employers avoid data entry errors."
Detention Reform: Changes to the immigration detention system began as soon as ICE announced a major overhaul of the system in August 2009. "we will reduce detention costs, minimize the length of stays and ensure fair proceedings throughout the removal process; detain aliens in settings commensurate with their risk of flight or danger; be fiscally prudent in carrying out detention reform; provide sound medical care; and ensure that Alternatives to Detention are cost effective and promote a high rate of compliance for those with orders for removal or to appear in court. To ensure that this effort moves forward swiftly, I have established a set of one-year benchmarks to be met by the end of Fiscal Year 2010 that include reviewing all contracts for detention facilities, revising detention standards to reflect appropriate conditions for detainee populations; and issuing two competitive bids for detention facilities that reflect our core principles."
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