Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) just sent letters to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Field Office Directors and senior ICE representatives requesting they appear before the Committee for transcribed interviews related to ICE's failure to enforce federal immigration laws. In fiscal years 2021 and 2022, the average number of removals of illegal aliens declined by 70%. The Biden Administration is also leaving more than 11,000 available detention spaces empty during a period of skyrocketing illegal immigration.
Excerpt of the letters:
"Congress has provided funding in both fiscal year 2021 and fiscal year 2022 for ICE to maintain an average daily detained population of 34,000 individuals. In fiscal year 2023, Congress again gave ICE funding to maintain the 34,000 daily average for detained individuals. Last year, however, ICE only detained an average of 22,360 individuals, leaving an average of more than 11,000 detention spaces empty during a period of unprecedented illegal immigration at our southwest border. This decision to leave so many spaces empty raises serious questions about ICE ERO's performance of its mission to 'protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws.'"
Letters were sent to the following ICE officials:
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Acting Assistant Director, Custody Management
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Acting Assistant Director, Removal Division
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Acting Assistant Director, Enforcement Division
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Acting Assistant Director, Law Enforcement Systems and Analysis
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Acting Assistant Director, Non-Detained Management
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Field Office Director - Chicago
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Field Office Director - Miami
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Field Office Director - Newark
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Field Office Director - New York City
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Field Office Director - San Antonio
Source: House Committee On The Judiciary