Significant National Security Loopholes In Gang Of Eight’s Legalization Plan‏

Significant National Security Loopholes In Gang Of Eight’s Legalization Plan

Despite the fact that Congress has on numerous occasions voted to reject the flawed and loophole-riddled “DREAM Act,” President Obama last year unilaterally directed his political appointees in the Department of Homeland Security to implement the policy administratively. Known as “deferred action for childhood arrivals” or DACA, this backdoor amnesty directly usurps Congress’ constitutional role in crafting the nation’s laws.

According to Kenneth Palinkas, the head of the union representing U.S. Immigrations and Citizenship Services (USCIS) adjudications officers, “DHS and USCIS leadership have intentionally established an application process for DACA applicants that bypasses traditional in-person investigatory interviews… These practices were put in place to stop proper screening and enforcement, and guarantee that applications will be rubber-stamped for approval, a practice that virtually guarantees widespread fraud and places public safety at risk.”

Now, a new report from Judicial Watch confirms that the Obama Administration has effectively abandoned official background check procedures as it pressured USCIS to keep up with the hundreds of thousands of amnesty applications submitted under DACA. After being told in September 2012 to scale back to “lean & light” background checks, an internal document revealed that in November 2012 USCIS adjudicators were directed by their superiors to abandon background checks entirely. This shows the lack of concern that top officials have for security.

The potential public safety and national security threats associated with this decision are undeniable: without a rigorous background check procedure, there is no way of knowing how many of the 291,859 approved applicants had criminal records, previous immigration violations, or even terrorist connections. And, under the Gang of Eight bill, USCIS would be forced to quickly process 11 million applications for legalization, on top of routine applications for legal admission.

Not only does the Gang of Eight bill not require in-person interviews for applicants for legal status, it also grants Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano broad discretion to determine what information must be supplied as part of a background check—virtually guaranteeing that the current dangerously lax standards will remain in place.^[1]

Recognizing the public safety threats inherent in such a system, Mr. Palinkas, the USCIS union president, has urged Congress to oppose the Gang of Eight plan: “If passed, S. 744 would lead to the rubber-stamping of millions of applications for both amnesty and future admissions and put the public safety and the taxpayer at risk…Why would the Senate pass a bill that makes it even more difficult to USCIS officers to identify, remove or keep out public safety threats?”

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) serves on four Senate committees: Armed Services, Judiciary, Environment and Public Works, and as Ranking Member of the Budget Committee. Visit Sessions online at his website or via YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Note: Please do not reply to this email. For further information, contact Sen. Sessions’ Press Office at (202) 224-4124.