Bob Goodlatte: House Judiciary Committee to hold hearing on asylum system abuse

Today, the House Judiciary Committee, which I chair, announced that it will hold a hearing on our nation’s asylum laws by the end of the year.  According to an internal Customs and Border Protection document obtained by the Committee, and as reported by the Washington Times today, many people claiming a “credible fear” of persecution at our ports of entry have a direct or indirect association with drug trafficking and other illegal activity such as human smuggling. Since there are intelligence gaps and loopholes in the system, the asylum process – which was designed to help innocent victims of persecution – is being abused by individuals who would otherwise be subjects of interest or subjects of criminal investigations.

It’s outrageous that members of Mexican drug cartels and others involved in illicit activity are so easily able to exploit our asylum laws and live in the U.S. virtually undetected. Our asylum laws are in place to help individuals who are facing truly serious persecution in their countries. However, dangerous criminals are gaming the system by claiming they have a “credible fear” of persecution when often they’ve been the perpetrators of violence themselves. Their claims almost always get rubber-stamped by the Obama Administration and once these individuals are in the U.S., the illegal activity doesn’t stop.

Once these individuals falsely claim a “credible fear” of persecution, there is virtually no investigation by U.S. authorities. Because the Obama Administration refuses to detain most of them, criminals and those who pose national security threats are then able to live and work in the U.S. for many years before their cases are ever heard by immigration judges.

Unfortunately, it appears the Obama Administration is compromising our national security and the safety of our communities for its political agenda. We must take a close look to see what can be done to put an end to this egregious abuse.  I will keep you updated as this process continues.

Bob Goodlatte represents the Sixth District in Congress.