Johnson: We are enforcing the law every day
On Sunday, April 27, ABC’s This Week interviewed Secretary Jeh Johnson from the Department of Homeland Security and discussed the Obama Administration’s policies on deportation.
On Friday dozens of protesters marched to the Homeland Security Immigration and Customs headquarters, confronting the agency over deportations.
President Obama has been promising immigration reform, but what he has given the people is actually record numbers of deportations and violations of their civil rights.
MR. THOMAS: In response to critics, last month President Obama asked Johnson to oversee a review of deportation policy.
The president said he wanted you to come up with a more humane approach to immigration. What does that mean?
SEC. JOHNSON: Immigration laws or any other law needs to comport with American values. One of those American values is respect for human dignity. I also believe one of those American values is respect for the sanctity of the family unit.
MR. THOMAS: But does that mean that people who are here illegally who have not been — committed crimes have less to worry about?
SEC. JOHNSON: It means that I am looking for ways to more effectively enforce and administer our immigration laws.
MR. THOMAS: But this week 22 Republican senators sent the president a blistering letter expressing their grave concerns that changes under consideration would represent a near complete abandonment of basic immigration enforcement.
Some critics on the right are saying, hey, you’re not enforcing the law.
SEC. JOHNSON: I don’t understand those who say we are not enforcing the law. We are enforcing the law every day.
None of what I can do, however, is a substitute for action by Congress. We have an immigration system in this country that is not working. Comprehensive immigration reform would fix it. This is something we need to do. I’m confident that it will happen.