Politics

Janet Napolitano: I had no role in DHS decision to release illegal immigrants before sequester

Vince Coglianese Editorial Director
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told ABC News that she had no part in the decision to release illegal immigrants nationwide ahead of Friday’s scheduled sequestration cuts:

“Detainee populations and how that is managed back and forth is really handled by career officials in the field,” Napolitano said.

Napolitano added that the release, which has been criticized by congressional Republicans, was poorly timed.

“Do I wish that this all hadn’t been done all of a sudden and so that people weren’t surprised by it? Of course,” she said.

When asked why the detainees were in jail in the first place, Napolitano replied, “That’s a good question. I’ve asked the same question myself … so we’re looking into it.”

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Vince Coglianese