Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) wants to know why Immigrations and Customs Enforcement released detained immigrants with criminal records.
A USA Today report earlier this month found that the Obama administration released more immigrants with serious criminal records than previously made public. At the time, ICE said that the immigrants only had minor crimes on their records, instead of charges like kidnapping, sexual assault and homicide.
{mosads}However, an ICE spreadsheet obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request stated that 144 detainees were released due to “special issues.”
Black said the release of potentially “violent criminals” should have been made public earlier.
“The news that your agency released violent criminals onto our streets and into our communities raises serious concerns and questions,” Black wrote in a letter to Acting ICE Director Thomas Winkowski.
Black further asked for clarification on what constituted the “special issues” for release. The Tennessee Republican also requested information on who directed ICE to release the individuals, as well as whether local officials and members of Congress were notified of the releases.