Prepared Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Executive Business Meeting
I. Nominations
Sarah Saldaña, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security
Joan Marie Azrack, to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York
Loretta Copeland Biggs, to be a United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina
Elizabeth K. Dillon, of Virginia, to be a United States District Judge for the Western District of Virginia
Michael P. Botticelli, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy
II. Bills
Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act (S. 1686)
Protecting Our Youth from Dangerous Synthetic Drugs Act (S. 1323)
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Mr. Chairman,

There is a request on our side that we hold over the three district court nominees and the nominee to be Director of National Drug Control Policy, Mr. Botticelli. I understand we will also be holding over the two bills on the agenda.

I’d like to say a few words on Ms. Saldaña’s nomination before we vote. At our last markup, two weeks ago, I mentioned that because Ms. Saldaña didn’t appear before the full committee to answer questions, the Republican Senators on the committee invited her to meet with us to have a dialogue on some of the challenges facing ICE. I was disappointed not only in the fact that she didn’t come and meet with us, but that we didn’t even receive the courtesy of a reply to this invitation.

Moreover, we received Ms. Saldaña’s answers to the questions for the record only yesterday. I am still reviewing them, but as an initial response, I’m disappointed in many of her answers, not
only on immigration but on other issues as well.

With respect to the recent executive order on immigration, I recognize that it was the President’s decision and not hers, but I was disappointed that she seemed to embrace rather than disavow the President’s recent actions.

Beyond that, I’d note that there are other areas as well where her answers were unsatisfactory. Many times she answered a question by telling me that she wasn’t familiar with a certain specific topic area and that, if confirmed, she’d look into it.

For example, I asked her a question on an immigration case and the Immigration and Nationality Act. She told me that before she was able to respond to my question, she’d have to review the case. Well, I would’ve expected her to have taken the time review the case in order to answer my question. Instead, she gave me the kind of answer that nominees sometimes give when they are trying to dodge the question. That concerns me and I think we need to expect more from nominees.

Ms. Saldaña also often responded to my questions with vague answers when I asked her to be specific. For example, I asked her what specific factors she would consider against the deportation of aliens convicted of certain crimes and she responded that she would make her decision based on “applicable law and specific relevant facts.” It seems to me that she could have spent a little more time answering my questions.

Because of these concerns, I’ll be sending Ms. Saldaña some follow-up questions based on many of her responses. I hope that she’ll answer my questions in a more responsive way this time.

Although I won’t be supporting Ms. Saldaña today in committee for the reasons discussed, I’ll reserve judgment to make a final decision on the floor.
 
Finally, I’d note that the invitation for Ms. Saldaña to come meet with the Republican Senators still stands. We’d value the opportunity to have a discourse with her on the job responsibilities of ICE director and whether she’ll be prepared to fulfill the duties and enforce the law.

 

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