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March23,2015TheHonorableJehJohnsonSecretaryU.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecurityWashington,D.C.20528DearSecretaryJohnson:WewritetoobtainadditionalinformationregardingthedangerouscriminalaliensarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI.OnMarch9,2015,U.S.ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement(ICE)announcedthat,asaresultofOperationCrossCheckVI,ICEEnforcementandRemovalOperations(ERO)arrested
2,059dangerouscriminalaliens,someofwhomhadconvictionsformanslaughter,possessionofchildpornography,robbery,kidnapping,rape,anddrivingundertheinfluence.ICEEROalso
announcedthearrestof58knowngangmembersoraffiliates,aswellasanumberofalienswhoICEorU.S.CustomsandBorderProtectionpreviouslyremovedfromtheUnitedStates.
AccordingtoinformationprovidedbyU.S.CitizenshipandImmigrationServices(USCIS),atleast23oftheindividualsarrestedhadpreviouslybeengranteddeferredactionunderthePresident sDeferredActionforChildhoodArrivals(DACA)program.ThisraisesseriousconcernsaboutthemannerinwhichUSCISchecksthebackgroundsofDACAapplicantsandconsultswithICEregardingDACAapplicants.CriminalaliensencounteredviaOperationCrossCheckposeasignificantdangertothesafetyandsecurityofourcountry,andwecommendtheeffortsoftheEROofficersinvolvedinthisoperationwhoplacedthemselvesatgreatriskinpursuingthem.Arresting,detaining,andensuringtheremovalofthesedangerouscriminalaliens-individualsICEhasdeemedtobeof
thehighestpriorityforremoval-isofgreatimportancetoCongressandtheAmericanpeople.NowyourdepartmentmustensuretheirremovalfromtheUnitedStatessothattheyarenotagainreleasedbackintoourcommunitiestocommitmorecrimes.Costlyoperationstoapprehendat-largecriminalalienswouldnotbenecessaryifstateandlocaljurisdictionswouldsimplycooperatewithICE,whetherbyhonoringICEdetainers,advisingICEbeforereleasingcriminalaliens,orallowingICEaccesstodetentionfacilities.TheneedfortheseoperationsalsowouldbeconsiderablymitigatedifthisadministrationhadnotendedthesuccessfulSecureCommunitiesprogram,andcurtailedtheabilityofEROtoissueICEdetainers,whichisatthecoreofICE smissiontopickupandprocessremovablealiensencounteredbylawenforcement.UnderminingICEdetainersendangersofficers,agents,andthepublic.Itisfarmoredangerousforlawenforcementtopursuealiensatlarge,infarlesssafeandpredictablesettings,thaniftheywereabletoobtaincustodyofcriminalaliensfromstateorlocalfacilities.Public
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SecretaryJohnsonMarch23,2015PageTwosafetyisalsogreatlycompromisedwhenthesealiensarereleasedbackintothecommunity,wheretheyoftencommitadditionalandmoreheinouscrimes.Wearecommittedtoprotectingthepublicfromreckless sanctuary jurisdictionpolicies.Wearealsocommittedtoholdingtheadministrationaccountableforitsfailuretodefenditsowndetainerauthorities,andintendtousetheresultsofOperationCrossCheckVItodemonstratetheimportanceofpreventingthereleaseofdangerouscriminalaliens.
Accordingly,untilyourDepartmentremovesallaliensarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI,pleaseprovidethefollowinginformationonamonthlybasis:1.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownby
immigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-currentlyinICEcustody,including:
a.ThenumberofdetainedindividualsICEcanremoveoutsideofremovalproceedings,including,butnotlimitedto,anadministrativeremovalpursuanttosection238(b)oftheImmigrationandNationalityAct(INA),asamended,orareinstatedorderofremovalpursuantsection241(a)(5)oftheINA.b.ThenumberofdetainedindividualsICEcanremovethroughremovalproceedingspursuanttosection240oftheINA.c.TheaverageamountoftimespentbyadetainedalieninICEcustodysinceprocessedbyOperationCrossCheckVI.2.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownbyimmigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-currentlyreleasedfromICEcustody,includingthefollowing:a.Theagencyorentityresponsibleforthedecisiontoreleasethealien
i
e
ICE,immigrationjudge),includinganyrecommendationastothecustodyorreleaseofthealienmadebytheICEOfficeofthePrincipalLegalAdvisor(OPLA)toERO,orbyanOPLAattorneytoanimmigrationjudgeinabondhearing.b.ThenumberofreleasedindividualsICEcanremoveoutsideofremovalproceedings,
including,butnotlimitedto,anadministrativeremovalpursuanttosection238(b)oftheINA,orareinstatedorderofremovalpursuantsection241(a)(5)oftheINA.
c.ThenumberofreleasedindividualsICEcanremovethroughremovalproceedingspursuanttosection240oftheINA.3.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownbyimmigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-whohadpriorencounterswithICE.Pleaseprovideadetaileddescriptionofthenatureofthepreviousencounters,andanyactionstakenbyICEaftertheencounterswithrespecttothatindividual.4.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownbyimmigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-whosubsequentlyobtainrelieffromremovalinimmigrationcourtproceedings.Pleaseprovideadetaileddescriptionofthecase,whetherICEhasappealedtheimmigrationjudge sdecisiontotheBoardofImmigrationAppeals,or
SecretaryJohnsonMarch23,2015PageThree
whereappropriate,whetherICEseekstohavetheDepartmentofJusticefileapetitionforreviewwiththerespectiveUnitedStatesCourtofAppeals.
5.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownby
immigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-whoseremovalproceedingsweresubsequentlyadministrativelyclosedasanexerciseof prosecutorialdiscretion byICEOPLA,orwhose
NoticetoAppearICEOPLAelectednottofileasanexerciseof prosecutorialdiscretion. Pleaseprovideadetailedexplanationinanindependentmemorandum-writtenbytheOPLA
attorneywhoadministrativelyclosedthecaseinimmigrationcourt-astowhysuchadecisionwasmade,toincludethepersonalrecommendationofthatOPLAattorney,anyinputordirectiononthematterfromsupervisoryattorneysatOPLA,andanyinvolvementwiththealien sattorneyoranyoutsideadvocacygroups.6.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownbyimmigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-whosubsequentlyhaveaninitialDACAapplication
orDACArenewalapplicationapprovedbyU.S.CitizenshipandImmigrationServices(USCIS).a.Pleaseprovideallinformationregardingthealien sinitial,andifapplicablerenewal,
DACAapplicationandcriminalhistory.b.IfUSCISbeginstoacceptandadjudicateapplicationsforDeferredActionforParentsof
AmericansandLawfulPermanentResidents(DAPA),pleaseprovideidentical
informationpertainingtothoseindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVIwhosubsequentlyhaveaDAPAapplicationapproved.7.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownbyimmigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-towhomICEsubsequentlygrantedastayof
deportation.Pleaseprovideadetailedexplanationinanindependentmemorandum-written
bytheFieldOfficeDirectororotherdecidingofficialwhograntedthestay-astowhysuch
adecisionwasmade,toincludehisorherpersonalrecommendation,anyinputordirection
onthematterfromsupervisorypersonnelinICE,andanyinvolvementwiththealien s
attorneyoranyoutsideadvocacygroups.8.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownbyimmigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-whotheDepartmentofJusticeoraU.S.Attorney sOfficesubsequentlyhaveelectedtoprosecutecriminallyforillegalreentry.9.ThenumberofindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVI-brokendownbyimmigrationstatusatthetimeofarrest-whoICEhassubsequentlyremovedfromtheUnitedStates.Whenprovidingtheinformationrequestedaboveforeachalien,pleaseensurethatthedataincludesasubcategoryforthoseindividualswhohadbeengrantedDACA,aswellasforanyindividualsarrestedduringOperationCrossCheckVIwhoatthetimeofarresthadapendingDACAapplication.
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