Congressman Mike Rogers sent a letter last week to President Obama, urging the president to nominate a candidate with strong immigration enforcement credentials to lead the Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agency. The current agency director, John Morton, announced he will resign in July.

Rogers has been a harsh critic of Morton, arguing that under his leadership ICE has allowed a “backdoor amnesty” that is against the law. In his letter to President Obama, Rogers highlighted Morton’s ill-fated decision to release hundreds of illegal immigrants from detention in response to Federal budget cuts. “Director Morton’s “prosecutorial guidance” documents, better known as the Morton Memos, undermined the legislative process and the public’s trust by creating a backdoor path to amnesty.  Additionally, his release of known criminal aliens in February was an ill-advised reaction to your sequestration plan and contrary to existing statutory detention requirements,” said Rogers’ letter. Rogers asked for Morton’s resignation in March.

“The President has asked Congress to get serious about immigration reform and this important position opening provides him the chance to show he’s finally serious about enforcing our immigration laws.  I urge President Obama to nominate someone who will take lead when it comes to immigration enforcement, who will uphold our current immigration laws and someone Americans can trust,” Rogers said.

Rogers serves as Chairman of the Strategic Forces subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee and is a senior member of the Homeland Security and Agriculture committees. 

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