2010 Press Releases

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

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

ICE Abuse of 287(g) Funds Unacceptable (10/25/2010) 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)...more

Smith Statement on ICE Deportation Stats (10/06/2010) 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...more

Illegal Immigrants in Workforce Outnumber Unemployed Texans (9/23/2010) 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....more

DOJ Inspector General to Review Voting Section Practices (9/13/2010) 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...more

Smith Introduces Resolution Disapproving Prop 8 Decision (8/10/2010) 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...more

Smith Remarks Regarding Resolution Disapproving Prop 8 Decision (8/10/2010) Washington, D.C. – At a news conference this morning, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) announced the introduction of a resolution...more

Smith: Judge Walker's Decision Undermines Democracy (8/05/2010) 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...more

Smith Calls for Special Counsel to Investigate Employee Harassment at DOJ (8/05/2010) 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...more

Smith Calls for Inspector General to Investigate DOJ Handling of New Black Panther Party Case (8/03/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine urging the IG to investigate...more

Leaked Memo Outlines No-Enforcement Agenda for Illegal Immigrants (7/30/2010) Washington, D.C. – According to an internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo obtained by Senator Chuck Grassley, the Obama administration is scheming to allow millions of illegal immigrants to stay and work in the United States. ...more

Smith: Reducing Penalties for Drug Offenses Puts Communities at Risk (7/28/2010) Washington, D.C. – Statement on the House Floor, July 28, 2010...more

Smith Response to Court Decision on Arizona Immigration Law (7/28/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Smith: “While it is disappointing that Judge Bolton is siding with the Obama administration against Arizona’s immigration ...more

Smith to Obama: Appoint Special Prosecutor to Investigate DOJ (7/22/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to President Obama urging the Administration to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the unexplained ...more

81 Members of Congress File Friend of the Court Brief Supporting Arizona in US v. Arizona (7/21/2010) Washington, D.C. – Chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus Congressman Brian Bilbray, Congressman Trent Franks and the Ranking Member on the Committee on the Judiciary...more

House votes to ease immigration process for international adoptions (7/21/2010) Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today voted to pass two bipartisan bills, both co-sponsored by Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21), that will ease the immigration process...more

Dems Still Focused on the Past (7/15/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in response to Democrats’ release of Committee testimony by Judge Jay Bybee...more

Smith Decries Massachusetts' Court Decision on DOMA (7/08/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today criticized the decision by a federal district court judge in Boston to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)...more

AZ Lawsuit Insults Majority of Americans (7/06/2010) Washington, D.C. – In a letter to Attorney General Holder, Ranking Member Lamar Smith and 19 other Members of Congress criticized the Obama administration’s decision...more

Second Amendment Upheld for All Americans (6/28/2010) Washington, D.C. – According to an internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo obtained by Senator Chuck Grassley, the Obama administration is scheming to allow millions of illegal immigrants to stay and work in the United States. ...more

Members Ask Senate to Question Kagan on 2007 Arizona Immigration Law (6/24/2010) Washington, D.C. – Fourteen members of Congress sent a letter today to Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jeff Sessions asking him to question Supreme Court nominee ...more

Dems Vote Against Resolution Requiring Transparency from Obama Administration (6/23/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Democrats today opposed a Resolution of Inquiry demanding information regarding the job offers made by Administration officials to...more

Conyers and Smith Statement on IPEC Report (6/22/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in support of...more

Smith and Sensenbrenner Introduce Resolution of Inquiry, Demand Justice Department Docs on Sestak, Romanoff Job Offers (6/18/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Constitution Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) have introduced a resolution of inquiry demanding information about what role the Justice Department may...more

Smith: Administration's AZ Lawsuit is Irresponsible and Arrogant (6/18/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to reports that the Obama administration...more

Smith Introduces Bankruptcy Amendment to Wall Street Reform Bill (6/17/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today offered an amendment to enhance the bankruptcy process for non-bank financial institutions and put an end...more

Smith to Holder: Was DOJ Consulted on Job Offers? (6/08/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Constitution Subcommittee Ranking Member...more

Message to participants in the Phoenix Rising Rally (6/05/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21) and 15 other Members of Congress will show their support with a welcome message to participants in the Phoenix...more

Smith to Conyers: Investigate Sestak-Romanoff Job Offers (6/04/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today called on Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers...more

Smith-Issa to White House: Say It Under Oath (6/03/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform...more

Smith, Issa and Sensenbrenner Call on White House to Live Up to Pledge of Transparency and Release Sestak Investigation Docs (6/02/2010) Washington, D.C. – Responding to a memo (Sestak Memorandum) released last Friday purporting to resolve allegations of criminal misconduct by White House officials...more

First Sestak, Now Romanoff-- Administration May Have Habit of Interfering in Elections (6/02/2010) Washington, D.C. – Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement responding to reports that Administration officials may have offered...more

Smith, Issa and Judiciary Republicans Call for FBI Investigation in Sestak Scandal (5/28/2010) Washington, D.C. – Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Oversight and Government Ranking Member Darrell Issa, and Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee today sent a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller... more

DHS Says Terrorists Illegally Crossing U.S.-Mexico Border (5/27/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to reports that that the Department of Homeland Security has issued a terror watch...more

Administration Issues National "Insecurity" Report (5/27/2010) Washington, D.C. –House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar (R-Texas) today criticized the Obama Administration’s National Security Strategy... more

Obama Misses Immigration Facts (5/27/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s remarks at his press conference today... more

Guard Deployment Should Be First Step, Not Last ( (5/25/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to reports today that the Obama administration will deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S./Mexico border: more

Smith Applauds Bagram Decision (5/21/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today applauded the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that Bagram detainees cannot use U.S. courts to challenge their imprisonment. more

Foreign Governments Should Not Interfere in American Affairs (5/20/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) attended President Calderon’s address to a joint session of Congress. After the President’s remarks, he issued the following statement: more

Mexico Should Not Interfere in U.S. Immigration Policy (5/19/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today related to the state visit of President Felipe Calderon of Mexico... more

Conyers and Smith Introduce Patent and Trademark Office Funding Stabilization Act (5/18/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the Patent and Trademark Office Funding Stabilization Act. ..more

Arizona's approach is reasonable, constitutional (5/17/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to a lawsuit filed today by the ACLU, MALDEF, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and others challenging Arizona's immigration enforcement law. ..more

Respect Law and Order, Don't Undermine It (5/13/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following in response to a news conference today in San Antonio supporting amnesty and opposing Arizona's immigration enforcement law. ...more

Smith Statement on Kagan Nomination (5/10/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the nomination of U. S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court:more.. more

National Day of Prayer is Constitutional (5/06/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today called for Members of Congress to join him in affirming the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer. ...more

Smith Sets the Record Straight on Amnesty (5/05/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to claims by Democrats that a massive amnesty would bolster the economy and help reduce the deficit. ...more

Eleven years is not 'temporary' (5/05/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement today in response the Obama administration's announcement that it would extent Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for illegal immigrants from Nicaragua and Honduras. ...more

Don't Legalize Terrorists (5/04/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement today after the arrest of naturalized citizen Faisal Shahzad for his terror plot to detonate a bomb in Times Square. ..more

Smith on Arizona's New Law: "Good for the Governor and the legislature" (4/26/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to reports that Governor Jan Brewer signed a new immigration enforcement bill into law. ...more

Smith Applauds DOJ Decision to Appeal National Day of Prayer Ruling (4/22/2010) Washington, D.C. – Today the Justice Department announced that it will appeal U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb's ruling that found the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional. ... House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the following statement applauding their decision: ...more

Smith, Issa Ask for Answers on Emissions Agreement (4/22/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Darrell Issa today asked nine auto CEOs to answer questions about the relationship between “secret negotiations” ...more

Smith-Forbes Resolution: National Day of Prayer is Constitutional (4/20/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Congressional Prayer Caucus Co-Chair Randy Forbes (R-Va.) today introduced a resolution (H.Res. 1273) ...more

A Win for American Workers (4/15/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today commented on a reported $18 million settlement with employees who said that the company hired illegal immigrants to keep wages low. According to news reports, the settlement affects about 48,000 current and former Mohawk workers...more

National Day of Prayer is NOT Unconstitutional (4/15/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today criticized the decision by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, which found the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional...more

Smith Urges DOJ to Appeal Ruling on Gitmo Detainee (3/24/2010) Washington, D.C. – In a letter today to Attorney General Eric Holder, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) urged the Justice Department to appeal a ruling that may order the release of Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi...more

Reclaim American Jobs Caucus Focuses on Putting Americans Back to Work (3/19/2010) Washington, D.C. – Today on Capitol Hill, Members of Congress announced a new caucus that will focus on putting millions of Americans back to work. Currently, 15 million Americans are unemployed, while an estimated 8 million illegal immigrants are employed....more

Smith Wants Answers Re: Terror Trial Venues (3/19/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting answers from the Administration regarding the anticipated prosecutions of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) ...more

Amnesty Plan at Odds with Will of the American People (3/18/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) responded today to the outline of the latest mass amnesty proposal. The outline does not hold any surprises and lays out the same vision for amnesty that President Obama and the Democrats...more

Smith Response to AG Holder's Claims that Terrorists will not be treated like Common Criminals (3/16/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to Attorney General Holder's testimony before the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee regarding civilian trials for terrorists. ...more

Booker Decision Hinders Equal Justice for Deffendants (3/12/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to a U.S. Sentencing Commission report that found serious sentencing disparities for federal defendants based on race, gender, level of education and citizenship...more

DOJ Refuses to Investigate ACORN (3/12/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and House Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)...more

Expanded Visa Waiver Program Leads to Illegal Immigration, Harms National Security (3/09/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21) issued the following statement in regard to the Obama administration's decision to expand the Visa Waiver Program to Greece...more

Smith Reaction to Media Reports About Military Commissions (3/05/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to media reports indicating that Obama Administration advisers plan to recommend that 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators be tried in military commissions in the U.S. ...more

Republican bills mandate new Visa Security Units (3/04/2010) Washington, D.C. – Senator John Cornyn (TX) and Representative Lamar Smith (TX-21) introduced companion bills in the Senate and House today to improve the security of our nation’s visa issuing process. The Secure Visas Act of 2010, HR 4758, mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintain...more

House Members React to SJC Draft for Patent Reform (3/04/2010) Washington, D.C. – Senator John Cornyn (TX) and Representative Lamar Smith (TX-21) introduced companion bills in the Senate and House today to improve the security of our nation’s visa issuing process. The Secure Visas Act of 2010, HR 4758, mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintain...more

Conyers-Smith-Berman Statement on Senate Patent Deal (2/26/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Committee Ranking Minority Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), and Representative Howard Berman (D-Calif.) released the following joint statement on the status of patent reform in Congress: ...more

Bill Isn't Bipartisan Without Tort Reform (2/25/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the President's bipartisan health care summit:...more

Bill Criminalizes Interrogation of Terrorists (2/25/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Committee Ranking Minority Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), and Representative Howard Berman (D-Calif.) released the following joint statement on the status of patent reform in Congress: ...more

Zazi and KSM are Not the Same (2/23/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the President's bipartisan health care summit:...more

Smith Bill Bars Terrorists' Entry into U.S. (2/23/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced a bill to bar Guantanamo Bay detainees from entry into the U.S. The Keep Terrorists at Bay Act of 2010 (H.R. 4648)...more

PATRIOT Act Provisions Expire This Week (2/22/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today called for Democrats to reauthorize national security provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act that are scheduled to expire at the end of this week...more

Enhanced Interrogation Tactics Saved Lives (2/19/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to the Justice Department’s decision not to pursue disciplinary action against the authors of the Office of Legal Counsel memos authorizing...more

DOJ Must Clarify Terror Trial Numbers (2/03/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today urged the Justice Department to provide substantive information regarding the number of terrorists currently housed in U.S. prisons and the number of terrorists successfully prosecuted...more

Administration Is Not Serious About Immigration Reform (2/02/2010) Washington, D.C. – Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) today issued the following statement regarding the President's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal...more

Gitmo Decision to Cost Americans in Safety and Security (2/01/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's FY 2011 Budget request: ...more

Rethink Manhattan ... and U.S. Soil (1/29/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to reports that the Obama administration is rethinking holding the trial of the 9-11 terrorists at a federal courthouse in Manhattan. The decision to relocate...more

Smith Response to State of the Union (1/28/2010) Washington, D.C. – Congressman Lamar Smith, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, said that President Obama's actions on spending, jobs and national security speak louder than his words: ...more

Bill Requires Consultation Before Giving Terrorists Miranda Rights (1/26/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Republicans today introduced legislation requiring the Justice Department (DOJ) to consult with the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense before giving terrorists Miranda rights...more

Illegal Immigration Hurts Lower Skilled Citizens and Legal Immigrants (1/26/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Congressman Gary Miller (R-CA), both members of the newly-formed "Reclaim American Jobs Caucus" issued the following statement today in response to a report commissioned by the Chicago Urban League and the Alternative Schools Network...more

GOP Members Send Letter Opposing EPA CO-2 Endangerment Ruling (1/21/2010) Washington, D.C. – A group of House Republicans today sent a letter to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs regarding the EPA's recent "endangerment" ruling on carbon dioxide. On December 7, 2009, the EPA found....more

Supreme Court Ruling Restores First Amendment Rights to Americans (1/21/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today applauded the Supreme Court's decision to overturn federal campaign finance restrictions to free speech of corporations...more

Smith works to close loophole that allows terrorists to stay in U.S. (1/20/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) today introduced H.R. 4471, a bill that revises the Immigration and Nationality Act...more

'Catch, Release and a Ride' Insults Unemployed Americans (1/12/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement today in response to a news report regarding illegal immigrants who were caught-and-released en route to work at Gillette Stadium last week...more

Illegal Immigration Hurts Lower Skilled Citizens and Legal Immigrants (1/07/2010) Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement today in response to a report from the Center for American Progress and Immigration Policy Center...more

No More Visas for Terrorists (1/07/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement responding to the White House review of the Christmas Day terrorist attempt...more

Smith Joins Ranking Members in Calling for President to Improve National Security (1/06/2010) Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) joined top Republicans on the House Armed Services, Appropriations, Intelligence, and Homeland Security committees today in sending a letter to President Obama outlining six initial steps that...more