ICE Director Morton says agency could have shifted funds to prevent illegal-alien detainee release

A very interesting post from www.NumbersUSA.com about the release of illegal immigrant felons from prison by ICE. This follows this post about the RNC's new immigration recommendation.  This follows this post about U.S. Catholic bishops increasing poverty among America's poor.  This follows this post about how to Report Illegal Immigrants! For more about what is happening in the nation now click here and you can read two very interesting books HERE.

ICE Director Morton says agency could have shifted funds to prevent illegal-alien detainee release

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posted on NumbersUSA





ICE Director Morton

ICE Director John Morton was forced to defend his agency's decision to release thousands of illegal aliens from custody during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday. Morton said he could have requested a reprogramming of department funds from the Appropriations Committee to prevent the release, and he also couldn't say with certainty that the illegal aliens released don't pose a threat to the safety of the American public.





Morton said the release was a direct result of the department facing a 5% cut in its funding because of the budget sequester that went into effect earlier this month. He said the agency was forced to save $300 million, while still trying to maintain an average detention rate of 34,000.





"The reduction was a direct result of ICE's efforts to stay within its budget in light of the continuing resolution and the possibility and now reality of sequester," Morton said.





The purpose of the hearing was to determine whether the agency did indeed release the detained illegal aliens because of the sequester or whether it was part of a greater public relations strategy by the Obama Administration to highlight the effects of the budget sequester. Morton testified that the decision came solely from within ICE.





"It was a decision made by the career officials made within the agency, specifically Mr. Mead and our Chief Financial Officers," Morton said. "Was the decision made by anyone outside of the agency? The answer is categorically no."

Rep. Bob Goodlatte



Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) asked Morton why he didn't consider tapping into other agency funds to prevent the release of the detainees.





"All the other accounts in ICE carried a balance of $240 million for the year, and $120 million for the past six months," Chairman Goodlatte said. "Additionally, your CFO indicated ICE carried forward $100-120 million in user fee balances. Can you tell me why ICE never submitted a reprogramming request to appropriations? Isn't it true that ICE could have submitted a reprogramming request to pay for the release of these detainees?"





"We can seek reprogramming requirements, that is absolutely true Mr. Chairman," Morton said. "We did not in this instance. I am trying to live within the appropriations that Congress gives us. … We are not going to rob Peter to pay Paul."





"The appropriations committee is very used to dealing with excess expenditures necessitated by changed circumstances and they do respond quickly to those requests," Goodlatte said. "I am pleased that you did acknowledge that you could have dipped into surplus funds from fees or from other funds carried over from other operations within the department rather than releasing criminal aliens onto our streets."

Rep. Raul Labrador



Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Id.) questioned Morton about his management of funds, but took a different angle. He said ICE was able to maintain the same levels of detention and deportations with less than funding than during the sequester during Morton's time with the agency.





"Your budget in 2009 was $4.9 billion," Rep. Labrador said. "Your budget in 2010, it was $5.3 billion. Your budget in 2011 was $5.4 billion. And your budget in 2012 was $5.5 billion. So in the last four years, your budget has been raised by at least 10%. Is that correct?"





"That is correct," Morton said.





"You're now telling us that because you have to cut 5% of your budget, you can not do the job you were doing in 2009 and 2010," Rep. Labrador said. "Is that what you're telling us?"





"No," Morton said. "I am telling you that we are operating at an all-time high in both detention and removals."





"But you just testified that in 2009 and 2010 you were detaining and deporting about 400,000 a year," Rep. Labrador said. "You were taking credit, which I think you should for deportations and you had a budget that was actually less than what your sequestration budget is going to be."





"Our removals were the highest ever," Morton said.





"And for the last four years you've averaged 400,000 deportations a year, and you've done it with a budget that was smaller than what we're talking about here," Rep. Labrador said.

Rep. Trey Gowdy



According to Morton, four of the 2,228 illegal-alien detainees that were released were level one offenders, meaning they had been charged of or convicted of a felony. House Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) asked Morton why they couldn't find the funding to keep the level one offenders in custody.





"If it's $122 a day to house four level one aggravated felons then releasing them saves you what - $600 a day?" Rep. Gowdy asked.





"Each day, that's right," Morton said.





"You can't find $600 a day anywhere in your budget?" Rep. Gowdy asked.





"We make determination on a case-by-case basis," Morton said.





"Can you find $600 somewhere else in your budget?" Rep. Gowdy asked.





"The question is whether that $600 is well spent on those people or someone else," Morton said. "When it comes to someone who was a 40 year lawful resident…"





"I don't care, was he a level one?" Rep. Gowdy asked.





"He is a level on offender," Morton said.





Rep. Gowdy, like many of the other Committee Members then shifted his line of questioning to whether or not the released illegal aliens could pose a threat to the American people.





"Did you release any recidivous drunk drivers?" Rep. Gowdy asked.





"Yes," Morton said.





"How many?" Rep. Gowdy asked.





"I don't have the exact number, but we have released many individuals that have DUI offenses," Morton said.





"Repeat offender DUI?" Rep. Gowdy asked.





"Repeat offender DUI," Morton said.

Rep. Randy Forbes



Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) asked Morton if any of the released illegal aliens were members of a violent gang.





"I think there are two cases, at least one that I know of, that when we went back and looked at the information there was a gang affiliation," Morton said.





"Do you ask the individuals that you detain whether they are members of a violent gang or not?" Rep. Forbes asked.





"We try wherever we can," Morton said.





"Is that part of your questioning? Do you have that information on the people you released?" Rep. Forbes asked.





"I don't know if we ask each and every person," Morton said.





"So you can't really answer for the 2,228," Rep. Forbes said. "All you can say is that two of these individuals had a known gang affiliation, but you don't know if the other 2,228 had a gang affiliation or not?"





"I can't speak to every individual that we released," Morton said.





"So it's possible that someone who was here illegally, who had been charged or convicted of a crime, and could have been voluntarily part of a violent criminal gang, you wouldn't know that?" Rep. Forbes asked.





"On convictions, yes. But on general gang affiliation, I can't say that we would know," Morton said.





Rep. Lamar Smith asked Morton directly if he thought any of the illegal aliens released could pose a threat to the American people. Morton tried to dodge the answer after Rep. Smith asked in several different ways, so Rep. Smith finally told him what he thought the public perception of the release was.





"Let me answer the question the way I think the American people would answer it," Rep. Smith said. "The American people think you releasing illegal aliens who have committed felonies or multiple misdemeanors is a threat to their safety."

How can I overcome an alcohol or drug problem?

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about drug and alcohol abuse. This follows this post about the Panama canal.  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

How can I overcome an alcohol or drug problem?


What does the Bible say that can help me in my struggle with drinking and drugs?



Answer:



Of course, the information that we can give you is from a spiritual perspective, not a medical one. We encourage you to investigate and take full advantage of medical, counseling and support programs in your area.



We understand that there are physical reasons some people have a greater inclination towards addiction to alcohol or other drugs than other people do. Also, we know that many people who are fighting addictions might well have been thrust into a drug-abusing environment through no fault of their own. But on the spiritual level, every addict bears some level of personal responsibility for his or her decisions.



Because this is true, this is where people with addictions need to start their spiritual battle to overcome. The wrongs that other people have done to you are matters that you must leave for them to repent of in God's time. For the present, you have to deal with the decisions you have made and the consequences they have brought. People with addictions are responsible for their sins and need to repent of those sins in the same way that every person must repent of his or her sins.



We don't have to tell you that it will not be easy to leave the past behind, because you probably have already discovered that for yourself. However, we can promise you that it is possible! It's good that you are aware of past mistakes. Anyone who thinks that he or she hasn't sinned won't ask for—and won't receive—forgiveness. On the other hand, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



See All...). The Proverbs add, "He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy" (Proverbs 28:13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.



See All..., Amplified Bible).



In other words, you have a significant part to play in the spiritual healing that needs to take place in conjunction with overcoming sin or a sinful habit. Spiritual healing doesn't stop with asking for forgiveness. You have to pursue knowledge of right versus wrong, which comes from a thorough study of God's Word. Having sought God's forgiveness for wrongs, you next need to commit to choosing and exercising the will to do the right in your everyday life. Since you are seeking help, we would guess that you have already sincerely pledged to live the way that you should. Yet you must prepare to struggle constantly against the temptation to slip into your old habit. The world around us—aptly called "evil" in the Bible—ingrains its ways into our nature. Satan adds weight to those natural pulls, attempting to deny the success of our good intentions.



Satan has influence over the entire world. Every man and woman reflects this influence in the negative tendency inherent in his or her nature. However, that doesn't mean that Satan is able to defeat you or keep you from succeeding. So long as you are seeking God, you should have confidence that Satan is held at bay. James encourages us with these words: "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.



See All...).



Look to God for His help. James assures us in the same context as the above verse: "Draw near to Godand He will draw near to you" (verse 8). One of the most encouraging promises about the help that we can expect from God is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.



See All..., which says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (New International Version).



Please don't be disheartened if you slip up. Overcoming is a process. It's human to give in to temptation and repeat sins that we thought were buried for good. God will always forgive. But the fact that He is merciful shouldn't encourage us to minimize the effect that repeating old sins has on us. God doesn't grow weary of forgiving the genuinely repentant, but we can grow weary of the struggle. Repeating a sin that we once thought we would never do again only shows how much we need God's constant help.



You probably have been asking God for His help, but you may not be aware of some matters that are crucial to obtaining that vital spiritual help. Sincere people who find they are repeating sins need to ask if they ever were truly converted. Unfortunately, many assume that they have the gift of God's Spirit, when they actually don't. To have the full help of God's Spirit, we need baptism to be forgiven of past sins and to receive the gift of His Holy Spirit. Making a promise to God to do well isn't the same as conversion.



We recommend that you review Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion and The Road to Eternal Life, our booklets on conversion. They explain forgiveness, repentance, how to receive the help of God's Spirit and the need to continue in the Christian way of life. You will find that you can actually build a relationship with God, as your Father, and that it will be comforting, inspiring and motivating.



Drop us a line from time to time to let us know how you're doing. If we can be of further help, please let us know.

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