Secretary Napolitano Issues Immigration and Border Security Action Directive (2009, green card, naturalization)

[Benicar]

Excerpts from her directive.

Release Date: January 30, 2009

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today a wide-ranging action directive on immigration and border security.

Today’s directive is the last in an initial series on a wide variety of issues impacting the department’s critical missions: Protection, Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Immigration.

For each assessment, a final report is due Feb. 20.

Immigration and border security. America is a nation of immigrants – and it is the Department of Homeland Security's role to manage America’s borders in a way that furthers this heritage, promoting legal immigration and cross-border commerce, while upholding the rule of law. The department must also enforce the law, targeting border criminals who use violence and fraud to smuggle people and drugs into the United States.

Criminal and Fugitive Aliens

The Secure Communities Program works with state, local, and tribal law enforcement to identify and remove aliens unlawfully present who are involved in criminal activity.

The Institutional Removal Program facilitates the entry of final removal orders before aliens convicted of crimes are released from criminal custody.

Fugitive Operation Teams. Please provide the current metrics of fugitive apprehension and removal (clearly differentiate the number of fugitives that are actually removed versus those aliens unlawfully present who are simply encountered by the teams while on assignment).

The Electronic Travel Document Program facilitates the travel of persons subject to removal orders. How can the department best secure an expansion of this program to include the consulates of additional countries?

The 287(g) program provides for agreements whereby federally trained and supervised state and local law enforcement officials can participate in the investigation, apprehension, and transport of unauthorized aliens.

Legal Immigration Benefit Backlogs. What progress has been made in reducing the significant backlogs that had developed in the adjudication of naturalization petitions and adjustment of status (green card) applications?

DHS: Secretary Napolitano Issues Immigration and Border Security Action Directive