ICE Council Pres. Chris Crane voiced the union's disapproval of the White House's proposed immigration framework in a letter to Pres. Trump on Friday, saying that it fails to address the trafficking and smuggling of minors across the border, immigration detainers, and sanctuary cities.
"We simply cannot in good faith support any legislative effort on immigration that does not include provisions regarding immigration detainers, sanctuary cities and the smuggling and trafficking of children across U.S. borders," Crane wrote.
Crane went on to say that border security and national security are nonexistent in the absence of strong interior enforcement, deterrents to illegal immigration such as E-Verify and entry/exit system to track visa overstays, and a zero tolerance policy for trafficking and smuggling minors across the border. Crane endorsed the use of E-Verify, which would shut off the illegal jobs magnet, and is a key provision included in Rep. Bob Goodlatte's Securing America's Future Act, H.R. 4760.
"Deterrents like E-Verify that end the enticement to come to the U.S. and work illegally, nationwide entry/exit systems that provide the ability to track visa overstays, and stronger laws that adopt a zero tolerance for smuggling children across our borders are as essential as the wall in stopping illegal immigration into the United States."
He added that any amnesty deal must include provisions to make changes regarding these issues and emphasized the impact that such a negation will have on future immigration policy and the ability of immigration officers to enforce the law.
"What you negotiate on immigration isn't just a give and take negotiation … it sets the table for our nation's immigration enforcement policies and strategy moving forward, and any critical enforcement measures bargained away potentially leaves gaping holes in law enforcement's ability to provide for public safety and national security."
Additionally, Crane reiterated previous requests that he had made in a letter last year, urging Pres. Trump to remove holdovers from the Obama-era DHS, improve working conditions and pay, and hire more support for immigration law enforcement. He added that the administration needs to send a clear message to local government officials that they must comply with federal law regarding requests from ICE.
