A hotline has been set up by the Department of Homeland Security for undocumented immigrants who believe that there may have been a violation of their rights under the executive action announced by President Obama. US Customs and Border Protection has sent out a memo asking undocumented immigrants to speak out if they think any officials have treated them in a manner contrary to the new policy.
Obama’s executive action gives temporary legal status to around four million undocumented immigrants and gives orders to agents from US Customs and Immigration and Border Patrol not to arrest any undocumented immigrants who may not meet the eligibility criteria but have nonetheless been residing in the United States for many years.
Border Patrol agents are furious at the memo, which they believe is an insult to law enforcers who have often risked their lives in the course of their duties. “Instead of supporting our agents, this administration has decided it is more important to find new ways to solicit complaints and invite ridicule against them,” says the National Border Patrol Council vice-president, Shawn Moran. “We demand that this administration spend more time defending the men and women defending our nation and less time promoting the extreme agendas of pro-illegal immigration organizations.”
Moran adds that a more appropriate hotline for the DHS to set up would be one that could be called by agents to complain about the Obama administration and its inability to enforce the law.
