[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 37 (Thursday, March 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H1404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A CALL FOR JOHN MORTON TO RESIGN

  (Mr. ROGERS of Alabama asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, we recently learned that 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, released 
thousands of illegal immigrants out of our detention facilities across 
the country in anticipation of the sequester cuts. This was done not 
after the sequester became law or the cuts became reality, but in 
anticipation.
  This is the latest in a string of lapses in judgment by ICE Director 
John Morton. Because of his repeated questionable actions, I've called 
on Mr. Morton to resign.
  Rather than making commonsense cuts like reducing administrative 
staffing, cutting overhead, or taking other action, ICE chose to 
release thousands of known criminals directly onto our streets and into 
our communities. ICE's justification for this plan is that those 
individuals will remain in a monitoring program while deportation 
proceedings are ongoing. Really?
  It baffles me that ICE officials continue to insist that someone who 
has already committed a crime by entering this country illegally would 
willingly participate in a monitored self-deportation program.
  The sequester has started and across-the-board cuts will affect us 
all, but we cannot stand by while ICE makes irresponsible decisions. I 
call on John Morton to resign and make a full accounting of this 
debacle to the American people.

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