U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary

Releases & Advisories

11/17/2010 - Ghailani Verdict a Major Disappointment
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to the Ahmed Ghailani verdict:

11/03/2010 - Smith Statement on Election Results
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to today’s election results:

10/25/2010 - ICE Abuse of 287(g) Funds Unacceptable
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to a Department of Homeland Security Inspector General (IG) report which found inadequate documentation of expenditures for 287(g) programs. According to the report, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials spent an estimated $6,329 per person for travel by 72 individuals for 15 reviews of agencies across the country. The IG’s office calculated its own estimate for reasonable spending for these trips, including lodging, airfare and per diem rates. Their estimate came to $2,300 per person. Congress provided ICE with $11.1 million in taxpayer funds to ensure that 287(g) programs are in compliance with federal guidelines.

10/06/2010 - Smith Statement on ICE Deportation Stats
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding newly-released immigration enforcement statistics. The statistics showed an increase in deportations of criminal aliens, but little else when it comes to immigration enforcement in the American workforce.

09/23/2010 - Illegal Immigrants in Workforce Outnumber Unemployed Texans
Washington, D.C. – There are more illegal immigrants in the Texas workforce than unemployed Texans, the co-chairs of the Reclaim American Jobs Caucus noted today. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 1,004,400 citizens and legal immigrants currently looking for work in Texas. And according to a 2010 Pew Hispanic Center study, there are 1,050,000 illegal immigrants working or looking for work in Texas.

09/13/2010 - DOJ Inspector General to Review Voting Section Practices
Washington, D.C. -- In a letter today to House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar (R-Texas) and Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Virginia), Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine announced that he will conduct a review of the Voting Section’s enforcement of civil rights laws to ensure they are enforced in a non-discriminatory manner.

08/10/2010 - Smith Introduces Resolution Disapproving Prop 8 Decision
Washington, D.C.— House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced a resolution disapproving the ruling of a federal district judge overturning the decision of a majority of California voters to define marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman.

08/10/2010 - Smith Remarks Regarding Resolution Disapproving Prop 8 Decision
Washington, D.C. -- At a news conference this morning, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) announced the introduction of a resolution disapproving the ruling of a federal district judge overturning the decision of a majority of California voters to define marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman.

08/05/2010 - Smith: Judge Walker's Decision Undermines Democracy
Washington, D.C.— U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker today overrode the decision of a majority of California voters to define marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today criticized the decision as a judicial overreach that undermines democracy and silences the voice of the people.

08/05/2010 - Smith Calls for Special Counsel to Investigate Employee Harassment at DOJ
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to Acting Special Counsel William Reukauf calling for an investigation into allegations that employees of the Civil Rights Division have suffered harassment based upon race, religious beliefs, or perceived political allegiance. If these allegations are true, it means that Justice Department employees themselves—who are tasked with enforcing federal laws—are in violation of federal law.

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