WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), today slammed the federal agency in charge of immigration, after they declined to attend a hearing focused on Missouri and Washington state murder cases in which the alleged perpetrators had entered the United States illegally.
Click HERE for photos from the hearing.
Earlier this week McCaskill had expressed her concerns to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Thomas Homan after he declined to attend the hearing or provide a suitable replacement. ICE also declined previous requests by McCaskill’s office for information and documents related to today’s hearing—including the alleged perpetrators’ “A-files”, which might explain why ICE failed to detain or alert local law enforcement about the alleged perpetrators, both of whom were convicted felons.
“I think it’s unfortunate that (ICE) is not here today to apologize to you,” said McCaskill, former Jackson County Prosecutor. “It would have been nice to have somebody from ICE at this table to look at you and say, I’m sorry, and to acknowledge the failure of that agency.”
Testifying at today’s hearing was Julie Nordman, the widow of Randy Nordman, one of five alleged murder victims of Pablo Antonio Serrano-Vitorino, a convicted criminal who had previously been deported. Mr. Serrano’s immigration status, criminal history and prior contacts with federal and local law enforcement raise questions about why he was in the United States and able to commit these murders.
Additional hearing witnesses included Ryan Rectenwald, Chief Deputy of Special Operations Grant Co. Washington Sheriff’s office; and Eric J. Severson, Sheriff, Waukesha Co. Wisconsin Sheriff’s office.
Visit mccaskill.senate.gov/immigration to learn more about McCaskill’s views on immigration reform.
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