RICHMOND, VA- Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07) today applauded U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for its response to a letter sent in February by the Alien Criminal Enforcement (ACE) task force. 

The ACE letter called on the Department of Homeland Security to grant county and state prisons access to the ICE database so that they can better identify illegal aliens in their custody. 

On Friday, ICE introduced the Secure Communities Initiative, which seeks to identify, detain and deport illegal criminal aliens from our federal and local jails.  This cooperation aims to eliminate the risk of criminal illegal aliens being released back onto our streets and into our neighborhoods.

ACE task force members Congresswoman Thelma Drake (VA-02) and Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) joined Cantor in commenting about the initiative:

“This effort by Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a good first step.  Giving our local law enforcement access to immigration status information of criminals is critical to the safety and security of Hampton Roads families.  I am pleased to see that cooperation is taking place between ICE and local law enforcement with the goal of deporting criminal illegal aliens as soon as their sentence is served.  I look forward to asking ICE questions about their proposal,” said Congresswoman Drake.

Congressman Wittman added, “We have an obligation to enforce our laws and protect the American people. The Congress has passed a series of immigration measures that, while well intentioned, have failed to solve our nation’s illegal immigration problem. The law enforcement community still lacks all the necessary tools to carry out their charge of pursuing criminals who are also illegal aliens. I am hopeful that this task force will provide new ideas and spur new debates in our effort to find a solution to this crisis.”

“The ACE task force has been working to enable law enforcement officials to determine the legality of individuals in our jails, and I believe the Secure Communities Initiative seeks to do the same,” said Congressman Cantor.  “If carried out efficiently and in a cost-effective way, it could ensure that criminal illegal aliens are identified and deported. I’m gratified that ICE has seen fit to address this critical issue; it shows that ACE has been effective in convincing ICE to make serious changes to immigration policy,” Cantor concluded.

The next meeting of the ACE task force will be Monday, April 7, 2008, at 11am in Norfolk, VA.  A representative from ICE will address the task force. 

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SOURCE: Right Side News