Sessions: Radical Circuit Court Decision Endangers Americans, Benefits Criminal Aliens

Statement

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and The National Interest, sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, asking the Department of Justice to take action to address a recent radical decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which limits the Department of Homeland Security's ability to detain the most dangerous criminal aliens. Sen. Sessions made the following statement regarding the Ninth Circuit's decision:

"The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Preap v. Johnson will endanger thousands of innocent American lives, especially those who live in sanctuary jurisdictions. Congress provided the Department of Homeland Security with the authority to detain the most dangerous criminal aliens without a bond for good reason: it ensures the protection of the public, and increases the likelihood of a prompt deportation. However, the Ninth Circuit has all but guaranteed that more dangerous criminal aliens in the 9 states and several territories covered by its jurisdiction will be able to obtain a bond, be released from custody, and reoffend. Moreover, in sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to hand over criminal aliens to DHS at all, much less immediately, the Ninth Circuit has guaranteed that dangerous criminal aliens will be able to roam free.

This decision is just one more example of liberal courts abandoning the laws written by Congress to promote a radical, political agenda that the American people reject. It also clearly shows the importance of appointing judges who will not rewrite duly enacted laws through judicial activism. It is incumbent upon the Department of Justice to ensure that this decision will not be allowed to stand."

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