Democrats Preparing Assault on Bush Border Security Lapses

I attended a Capitol Hill hearing today on "Interior Immigration Enforcement Resources." No one could have missed the fact that Democrats are preparing to pounce on the Bush administration's failure to fully fund authorized detention space and ICE enforcement agents. Time after time, Congresswoman Maxine Waters -- a newcomer to the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims -- underscored the hypocrisy in the administration's failure to live up its public commitments to improve overall immigration enforcement. Her comments were echoed by Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and California Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. Strange coming from people with no real track record supporting immigration enforcement.

Committee witness Paul Martin, Deputy Inspector General, US Department of Justice, noted "the lack of complete and accurate data" in locating and apprehending alien absconders. It's clear that the Bush administration is leaving itself vulnerable to Democrat attacks should another terror incident occur involving an alien crossing the southern border. The hearing took place today in Rayburn House Office Building.

-Dan Stein