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Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is pictured on Capitol Hill in January 2017.(Photo: Mark Wilson, Getty Images)

WASHINGTONA Missouri widow on Wednesday told lawmakers in terrifying detail how she hid in her attic, scared out of my mind, as her husband was murdered by a Mexican immigrant in the U.S. illegallyadding a powerful personal voice to the heated debate over illegal immigration.

In the 18 months before the senseless murder of my husband, this killer has been in custody on three occasions, yet federal officials failed to detain or deport him, Julie Nordman, of Wentzville, told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee during a hearing on lax immigration enforcement.

Had they just done their jobs and followed the laws, my husband would still be alive, and so would the four other innocent victims he brutally murdered, Nordman told the committee.

After Nordmans gripping testimony, Sen. Claire McCaskill, the top Democrat on the committee, blasted the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which refused to send anyone to testify at Wednesdays hearing.

Its unfortunate theyre not here today to apologize to you at a minimum, McCaskill, D-Mo., told Nordman, to look at you and say Im sorry and to acknowledge the failures of that agency.

The GOP chairman of the committee, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, promised Nordman that the committee would get answers to her questions about why immigration officials did not take her husbands alleged murderer into custody before he went on his killing spree, despite several arrests by local law enforcement officials.

You have the commitment of this committee ... to get you answers, Johnson said, telling Nordman that her testimony will make a difference.

In a letter responding to McCaskills request for testimony, ICE officials said the acting director, Thomas Homan, had a prior commitment. A spokesman for McCaskill said the senator asked if another ICE official could come in Homans place but were told that no one else was available

Nordmans husband, Randy Nordman, was killed last March at the couples house near New Florence. Prosecutors have charged Pablo Antonio Serrano-Vitorino, a Mexicanman who was in the U.S. illegally, with Nordmans murder. Serrano-Vitorino has also been charged with killing four men at his neighbors house in Kansas, the day before he allegedly shot Nordman.

As Nordman recounted at Wednesdays session, Serrano-Vitorino was deported in 2004 but he later reentered the U.S. illegally. In the two years before he killed her husband, Nordman testified, he was arrested three times for driving while intoxicated, for domestic battery, and for driving without a license. She said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials repeatedly failed to act when notified by local law enforcement officials that Serrano-Vitorino was in custody.

In one instance, she said, ICE mistakenly sent the detainer paperwork to the incorrect location, and it never reached the proper authorities.

As a result of that failure, he went on to kill five completely innocent men, Nordman said. Not only has ICE failed us, but our borders have failed us. They are obviously wide open as this man was able to enter, not once, but twice, without being detected.

Nordmans testimony comes as Congress opens a divisive debate over immigration, sparked by President Donald Trumps push to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and his expanded efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.

Trump maintains hard line on immigration

Trump used his first joint address to Congress on Tuesday night to highlight violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Many Republicans have embraced Trumps hardline immigration rhetoric and policies, whilesome Democratshave accused the president of stirring up fear and hatred toward immigrants.

McCaskill said lawmakers needto fully understand the current failures of the immigration system before passing any new legislation or building Trumps proposed border wall. She seemed wary of a possible crackdown on refugees fleeing violence in Central America.

ICE should prioritize detaining immigrants with a criminal record, McCaskill said, and maybe not the children who are showing up at our border saying 'Please help me'.

Nordman did not offer a specific fix for the crime that tore apart her life.

I want to make sure this doesnt happen to somebody else, she told the committee. I want the laws strengthened or changed ... Thats all.

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Link:
Widow testifies failed immigration system led to husband's slaying - USA TODAY

President Trump highlighted family members of Americans killed by illegal immigrants during his speech, seeking to make an emotional appeal to build support for stronger border-control measures.

Trump met in the Oval Office ahead of the prime-time address with Jamiel Shaw Sr., whose son was shot by a gang member in Los Angeles in 2008, and Jessica Davis and Susan Oliver, who were married to California police officers killed in the line of duty in 2014. All three were guests in the presidential box in the House chamber, as Trump aimed to make a pointed message about the costs of illegal immigration a week after the Department of Homeland Security rolled out sweeping new enforcement guidelines.

Trump was joined several times on the campaign trail by family members of victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, including so-called angel moms, whose children had been killed. As president, Trump has pledged to raise their profiles, and the new DHS guidelines issued last week included a provision to create a new office to support such victims and their families.

I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American victims, Trump said in his speech to Congress. The office is called VOICE - Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement. We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests.

Trumps spotlight on the victims families has sparked an outcry among those who charge the president is exaggerating the risks to sow public fear to make his proposals more politically expedient. Studies have shown that immigrants, including the estimated 11 million living here illegally, have lower crime rates than the native-born population.

On the campaign trail, Trump said he would seek to quickly deport between 2 million and 3 million immigrants with criminal records. But a study by the Migration Policy Institute found that 820,000 unauthorized immigrants had committed other crimes, including about 300,000 with felony records.

I want you to know - we will never stop fighting for justice, Trump said, addressing his guests. Your loved ones will never be forgotten, we will always honor their memory.

See more here:
Trump calls for creation of office to support victims of crimes by illegal immigrants - Washington Post

There was a significant dip in illegal immigration across the southwest border during President Trumps first month in office compared to that of the last three months of Obamas presidency, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said.

In January, 31,575 individuals were taken into custody between ports of entry on the southwest border. That contrasts with an average of more than 45,000 for each of the previous three months, according to a CPB report released Monday.

The agency said that while it is experiencing a decrease in illegal attempts at entry, the overall total migration remains at elevated levels due to family units and unaccompanied children from three groups: Central Americans, Haitian nationals migrating from Brazil and Cuban nationals.

Jim Carafano, a security expert with the Heritage Foundation, said an assortment of factors could account for the change in numbers.

There are a lot of reasons why numbers go up and down, but some of it could be a reaction to statements from President Trump that were going to increase border security and seeing media reports that were going to get tougher on illegal immigration in the U.S. People may be more resistant to come, Carafano told Fox News.

You cant make too much of monthly numbers, but if you see the total lawful immigration population drop, that means youre doing something thats impacting the system overall.

A senior Trump administration officialsaid Tuesday that the president is considering legislation to provide a pathway to legal status, but not yet citizenship, for those currently in the United States illegally -- despite reports throughout his campaign for a mass deportation.

The senior administration official said that the president thinks it is time to push for an immigration bill.

Even still, plans to build a wall are underway, with the administration making its first steps to developing and implementing one of Trumps hallmark campaign promises.

Trump told the Conservative Political Action Conference last Friday that construction will start very soon and is way, way, way ahead of schedule.

Nevertheless, a White House spokesperson said Tuesday the president is open to having conversations about fixing Americas immigration system, but the primary focus now is on border control.

The White House said Tuesday afternoon that immigration will be mentioned in Trumps address to the joint session of Congress Tuesday night.

Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum anchor from Washington. Tune into Fox News Channel at 8:50pm ET for special coverage of President Trumps first address to the Joint Session of Congress.

Original post:
Big drop in number of illegal immigrants entering US through its southern border - Fox News

A White House official told television networks Tuesday that President Trump would like to see Congress work on a new broad immigration bill, reigniting a festering debate on Capitol Hill.

The revelation came from network anchors, who regularly meet with presidents ahead of big speeches to Congress though the official who made the statement was not named.

Mr. Trumps plan would allow illegal immigrants to live and work in the U.S., but would stop short of granting most of them full citizenship, CNN reported. Dreamers, the young adult illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, would be an exception, likely eligible for full status.

The official said both sides would have to compromise.

White House deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders said she could not confirm the comments made during the luncheon. But she said massive reform of immigration laws has always been Mr. Turmps goal.

The president has been very clear in his process that the immigration system is broken and needs massive reform and hes made clear that he is open to discussions on that moving forward, she told reporters at the White House.

She said the presidents focus remains on border security and deporting illegal immigrations who commits serious crimes.

Those priorities have not changed, said Ms. Sanders.

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Trump open to legal status for illegal immigrants: report - Washington Times

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On Wednesdays broadcast of MSNBCs Morning Joe, House Minority Leader RepresentativeNancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated that immigration reform that gives people in the country illegally legal status, but forbids citizenship is just not respectful, and not worthy of our country.

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After stating that she hopes President Trump is open to immigration reform, Pelosi was asked about whether she could live with a path to legal status for people in the country illegally. She answered, I think its more what our country is about. We have criticized other countries that said we utilize you as a workforce, but youre not fully present in our country. In my view, its very important for us to say the path to citizenship is the dignity that these people .

She added, [I]f its something that forbids citizenship, no, I couldnt sign on to that. If we want to talk about I think there are plenty of ways we can work in a bipartisan way on immigration. In fact, we have to.

When asked about a plan that would give legal status initially, and a potential path to citizenship down the road, Pelosi answered, Its always just a path. All weve talked about is a path to citizenship. But to be a country that says, we have not even second-class citizenship, because it isnt citizenship, its just not respectful, and not worthy of our country.

Follow IanHanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett

More here:
Pelosi: Barring Illegal Immigrants From Citizenship Is 'Just Not Respectful, And Not Worthy of Our Country' - Breitbart News