This Wednesday, April 22, 2009 four senior DHS nominees will appear before the US Senate for their confirmation hearings. These four individuals are part of the first wave of Obama Administration senior executives, following the confirmations of Secretary Napolitano and Deputy Secretary Lute, selected to take the reigns of key DHS components and lead it for the next four-plus years. Here are some questions for them.
Immigration adviser faces learning curve (4/20/09) — www.GovernmentExecutive.com NJ: What sort of shifts in policy should we expect to see soon? Schriro: There’s been quite a bit of discussion about the decision-making when aliens are identified and are in the process of determination of amenability for deportation and going through the removal process. You know, […]
DHS Sec. Napolitano wants to revamp government’s approach to Real ID Passed in 2005, the Real ID Act launched a nationwide effort to improve the integrity and security of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, with an eye to fighting terrorism and reducing fraud. But the program has stalled out. Now the new DHS secretary […]
CQ Homeland Security: Authorities Release Immigrants to Target Bigger Fish Just before Congress went to recess, the top Republican on the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee said the release of 24 illegal immigrants on work permits after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid “effectively put illegal immigrants in the front of the employment line.” But […]
Many border security projects have suffered from the sloth, or indifference, of the senior political leaders responsible for their success. Far too often, senior leaders were unwilling to assume direct and full responsibility for their agency programs, and instead, delegated responsibility down to more junior, and less qualified, government officials, who then delegated responsibility down still further.
Yesterday, the administration announced a new “border czar” and a raft of new and ongoing border security initiatives to battle the smuggling cartels. It still not clear what the scope of the czar’s authority will be and how he will interface with all the folks working on the border.
News reports indicate that DHS Secretary Napolitano will announce Alan Bersin as a Counselor to the Secretary today with the informal title of “Border Czar” focusing on the Southwest border and the escalating violence in the region. So who’s now responsible for particular operations in the Southwest region at DHS HQ? And isn’t this similar to the original structure of DHS — the “Border Czar” then was Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security.
Based on an article in today’s New York Times, the Administration may begin sharing its views and strategy on implementing immigration reform as early as May. One can already envision the pro- and anti-immigration fronts mobilizing, in preparation for another drama-filled showing of the national divide on this issue.
Obama to Push Immigration Bill as One Priority – NYTimes.com While acknowledging that the recession makes the political battle more difficult, President Obama plans to begin addressing the country’s immigration system this year, including looking for a path for illegal immigrants to become legal, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.
Those working and living along the US-Mexican border are hopeful that the new attention of the Administration will finally solve the long simmering problems, improve security and eliminate any trade frictions. Secretary Napolitano is to be commended for making a new effort, outlining some innovative solutions, and going to Mexico to talk directly with her counterparts in the effort to coordinate a bilateral approach to this problem.
Sponsored by:
