Rep. Lamar Smith Highlights Rapid Decrease in Workplace Enforcement

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, has issued a press release highlighting the deplorable state of the Department of Homeland Security’s workplace enforcement efforts.

According to Rep. Smith’s release, between FY 2008 and FY 2009,

Administrative arrests fell 68%. 
Criminal arrests fell 60%. 
Criminal indictments fell 58%.
Criminal convictions fell 63%.

“It is hard to conceive of a worse time to cut worksite enforcement efforts by more than half,” said Rep. Smith. “There are 16 million Americans out of work.  And yet, the administration has chosen to ignore the fact that there are nearly eight million illegal immigrants in the workforce.  Those stolen jobs should be returned to out-of-work citizens and legal immigrants. The Obama administration should put citizens and legal immigrants first, especially when it comes to jobs.”

Click here to read the release in full and click here to read a Washington Times story on these troubling statistics.