WASHINGTON, DC — Today’s hearing of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Liberties, on “The Administration’s Decision to Deport Critically Ill Children and Their Families,” featured acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Ken Cuccinelli. Cuccinelli has a long history of anti-immigrant statements and positions. Under questioning about the administration policy change that led to families with critically ill children being threatened with imminent deportation, Cuccinelli publicly acknowledged for the first time today that the decision to make the change was his. People For the American Way Executive Vice President for Policy and Program Marge Baker released the following statement:
“Given Ken Cuccinelli’s long and dishonorable record on immigration, it’s not surprising to find out that the heartless decision to deport sick children and further terrorize vulnerable families was his call, made without consideration for the people it harmed. It is almost unimaginable that any person would consider a policy such as this. And the fact that Cuccinelli now says he might have implemented the policy differently in some cases doesn’t make his actions any less repellent.”
Cuccinelli said at today’s hearing that if he had it to do over again, he would not have applied the policy to people who already had requests pending.
He also said the decision to have USCIS stop considering requests for deferred action on deportation was not made public because it was simply a policy change, and that the decision was made without considering any of the individual cases that came to light after families started getting deportation warnings in August.
PFAW’s Right Wing Watch program has documented Cuccinelli’s activities for years; see entries here: https://www.rightwingwatch.org/people/ken-cuccinelli/
About People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.
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