(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch, the public interest group that fights government corruption, today released the results of a previously undisclosed Border Patrol survey of apprehended illegal immigrants demonstrating that President Bush’s “temporary worker proposal,” was broadly interpreted as an illegal immigration amnesty program by illegal immigrants from Mexico, and led to a spike in illegal immigration crossings. Judicial Watch also uncovered through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) a Border Patrol document entitled, “White House Approved Talking Points,” directing Border Patrol agents to withhold information on the impact of the Bush amnesty proposal on illegal crossings.
Judicial Watch presented the documents and a report, U.S. Border Patrol Survey Analysis, to House Immigration Reform Chairman Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) at a joint press conference. Among the conclusions of Judicial Watch’s report are:
- President Bush’s proposal lured greater numbers of illegal immigrants to violate the law. Approximately 45% of respondents crossed illegally based upon rumors of a Bush amnesty program.
- Approximately 63% of the illegal aliens surveyed received Mexican government or media information supporting the notion of a Bush administration amnesty program.
- When asked if they would seek amnesty if offered, 80% of apprehended illegal immigrants answered, “yes.”
The “talking points memo” uncovered by Judicial Watch instructs Border Patrol agents to withhold information about the negative impact of the president’s proposal. “Do not talk about amnesty, increase in apprehensions, or give comparisons of past immigration reform proposals…Do not provide statistics on apprehension spikes or past amnesty data,” Border Patrol agents were told.
“Unfortunately, at a time when the United States faces an illegal immigration crisis and a war on terrorism, Bush administration officials directed Border Patrol agents to mislead the American people. Well, now the truth is out,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton in his press conference remarks.
On the day President Bush announced his “temporary worker program,” in a January 7, 2004 speech to the nation, the Border Patrol initiated a survey of apprehended illegal immigrants to determine if the president’s proposal was influencing their decision to cross the border. Three weeks after the survey was initiated the Bush administration abruptly shut it down. The federal government never issued a report on the aborted survey or its findings.
Judicial Watch filed a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) with the Department of Homeland Security in February 2004. When Homeland Security stonewalled, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit in June 2004. In May and June 2005, almost a year later, Judicial Watch forced the release of approximately 1,000 documents, including the surveys (Judicial Watch v. Department of Homeland Security, Civil Action No. 04-0907 (RBW)).
“The timing of the survey’s start and early dismissal, and the DHS gag order and stonewalling of Judicial Watch’s request, suggest that the Administration is playing politics with border security data. I hope that this is not the case,” said Congressman Tancredo. “It is crucial that the American people know that their government is not letting politics get in the way of national security.”
Judicial Watch’s report, Border Patrol Survey Analysis, is available by clicking here. To view all enclosures, click here.
A video of the press conference is also available by clicking here (Windows Media format).
Photos of the event are also available by clicking here and here.
