U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has issued a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, criticizing the decision to grant what he describes as "de facto amnesty" to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. Recent reports indicate that since 2022, the Biden Administration has closed more than 350,000 asylum cases, allowing these migrants to remain in the country without mandatory check-ins with authorities.
“Let’s be clear: granting mass amnesty to illegal migrants contradicts any Biden Administration claim that it is now somehow getting ‘tough’ on the border […] Your failure of leadership and complete unwillingness to uphold the law continues to imperil the well-being and lives of American citizens,” wrote Senator Hawley.
According to data from Syracuse University’s Transactional Record Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), the administration's actions have resulted in an unprecedented number of closed asylum cases. These individuals are no longer tracked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and can pursue legal status pathways, effectively creating what Hawley terms a "mass de facto amnesty program."
Hawley expressed concerns about public safety, citing reports from ICE officers about increased crime among migrants whose asylum cases were closed. He referenced a recent incident involving a Venezuelan national accused of shooting multiple New York Police Department officers after his immigration case was closed in early May 2024.
“The American people deserve answers about the Biden Administration’s attempts to create a mass amnesty program for illegal migrants,” stated Hawley.
In his letter, Senator Hawley requested detailed information from DHS by June 17, 2024. His inquiries include:
1. Actions taken by DHS to track migrants with closed asylum cases.
2. The number of such migrants applying for family-based visas, employment-based visas, Temporary Protected Status, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
3. Data on crimes committed by these migrants post-closure of their asylum cases.
Sincerely,
Josh Hawley
United States Senator
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