Did Politics Drive Obama Administration to Release 600 Criminal Illegal Immigrants?

A new report by the Homeland Security inspector general has once again put the spotlight on the Obama administration’s release of more than 600 illegal immigrants with criminal convictions. Last night, Sharyl Attkisson helped Fox News’ Lou Dobbs make sense of the story.

In early 2013, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released thousands of illegal immigrants, including hundreds of criminals and felons. Critics accused President Obama of using the release as a politically motivated stunt as a budget debate played out in Washington.

According to Attkisson, the report failed to answer that key question: How much did politics have to do with it?

>>> Obama Administration Released Over 600 Illegal Immigrants With Criminal Convictions

The investigation found no evidence of consultation between the White House and ICE about the release; the decision was made by an ICE financial officer.

Sen. @TomCoburn blasted Obama for ‘releasing known criminals into our streets.’

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Attkisson noted, however, that ICE did notify the White House Office of Budget and Management before the immigrants’ release, and that the administration hasn’t made any effort to hold anyone accountable.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., the lawmakers who requested the report, echoed Attkisson’s sentiments.

“Americans need to be assured the problems within ICE that led to the dangerous release of illegal aliens will be fixed,” Coburn said, “and that DHS and ICE will never again violate the law by releasing known criminals into our streets.”

McCain blasted the president for a “lack of coherent leadership on immigration policy.”