Sen. Cruz: How Many Criminal Illegal Aliens Did the Obama Administration Release?

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today questioned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Sarah Saldaña in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing regarding the Administration's failure to enforce immigration law against criminal illegal aliens.

"Ms. Saldaña, I will note in your opening statement here, you said after listening to the victims' families you were so sorry for their losses, and yet the Obama Administration keeps doing it. When I asked you how many murderers were released yesterday, you don't know," Sen. Cruz asked. "There is a reason the American people are upset. If President Obama had the courage of his convictions, he would come and look in the eyes of these men and women who have lost their sons, their daughters, their mothers, their sisters, their brothers, and the Administration would stop releasing murderers and rapists."

Sen. Cruz cited the following numbers among the 104,000 criminal illegal aliens released into the public in 2013:

• 193 had homicide convictions
• 426 had sexual assault convictions
• More than 16,000 had drunk driving convictions

"There are too many politicians in Washington that talk a good game but don't act. If you want to honor Josh [Wilkerson], if you want to honor Kate Steinle, start enforcing the law and stop releasing murderers, and rapists, and drunk drivers. I don't want to hear from the Obama Administration they're sorry while they continue to do the exact same thing because what we know - more people will be murdered, more people will be raped, more people will be killed by drunk drivers because this Administration refuses to enforce the law. That is wrong. No man is above the law, and that includes President Obama." Sen. Cruz said.

Several family members of victims testified at the hearing:

Ms. Laura Wilkerson, Mother of Josh Wilkerson, Pearland, Texas:
"This was our family's 9/11 terrorist attack by a foreign invader, whether you want to recognize it or whether you do not... Americans are dying daily at the hands of criminals that we don't even know are here... You cannot stand by and ignore us... Your silence speaks volumes. You're either for Americans, or you're not."

Mrs. Susan Oliver, Wife of Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver, Garden Valley, Calif.:
"I can honestly say that not a day goes by that this has not affected me. It may not be visible always. It may not be written in bold for all to see. It may not even be recognized, but it's always in the background of my mind...I lost the man I was married to for 25 years...I hope that my husband's death won't be in vain. I hope that I can be here to make a difference. My life is forever changed and saddened. Please help put policy in place to make sure that criminal immigrants who are in this country illegally are never allowed to dictate the life of a true humanitarian, like my husband Deputy Danny Oliver."

Mr. Michael Ronnebeck, Uncle of Grant Ronnebeck, Sacramento, Calif.:
"It is my family's greatest desire that Grant Ronnebeck's legacy will be more than a reading obituary, a cemetery plot, or a fond memory. Instead, we want Grant's death to be a force for change and reform of immigration policy in this great nation."

Mr. Jim Steinle, Father of Kathryn Steinle, Pleasanton, Calif.:
"Unfortunately due to disjointed laws, and basic incompetence on many levels, the U.S. has suffered a self-inflicted wound in the murder of our daughter by the hand of a person that should have never been on the streets of this country...We feel if Kate's Law saves one daughter, one son, a mother, a father, Kate's death won't be in vain."

Full footage of Sen. Cruz’s questioning in today’s hearing can be found here. The hearing in its entirety can be viewed here. 

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