Congressman Trey Gowdy Presses DHS on Release of Aggravated Felons to Cut Costs

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee,
is holding a full committee hearing today that started at 1:00 Eastern. It’s being  livestreamed
on CSPAN3. 

Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy, (R-SC) released the following statement ahead of the hearing: “ICE contends it only detains the ‘worst of the worst;’ therefore it
necessarily follows ICE just released thousands of the ‘worst of the
worst’ onto our streets.  It strains credibility to understand why then
the first cost-saving measure ICE pursued was to release detainees from
custody.”

Earlier this afternoon, he questioned DHS Under Secretary, Management, Rafael Borras
on the  10 level 1, aggravated felons released by ICE. Where might they
have cut the measly $1,200 a day it takes to detain these dangerous criminals, rather than releasing them?  Conferences? Travel? Promotional material?

“But you agree with me that the decision to release level 1,
aggravated felons was not the only option that you had, there were other
places that you could have cut costs?” Gowdy asked Borras at one point.

“There was nothing else you could do as a cost saving measure.” Is that your testimony?” He pressed.

Borras answered in the negative: “no, it’s not my testimony.”

 

Yet they released these detainees instead of trimming the fat.