Questions for Secretary Napolitano: Detention and Removal

Jena McNeill / April 30, 2009

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano is tentatively scheduled to testify before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee about DHS immigration enforcement policies on May 6, 2009. Given Secretary Napolitano’s novel interpretations of federal law, the Heritage Foundation will be posting a series of questions (and suggested answers) for the Secretary. Past questions can be found here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Question # 7: Is the Obama Administration committed to the Detention and Removal Program?

The government used to “catch and release” illegal immigrants. When an illegal alien was caught, rather than being detained and deported, the person was released back into society with a scheduled court date before an immigration judge. No enforcement activity ensured that these illegal immigrants appeared in court, and not surprisingly, many did not appear for their hearings. (more…)