Rep. Paul Gosar calls for investigation into illegal immigrant drops

PHOENIX — U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) is calling for an extensive investigation into why possibly hundreds of illegal immigrants captured in Texas were dropped off at bus stations in Tucson and Phoenix.

Gosar said there are many questions that need to be answered.

“We want to know who authorized it, what is the law enforcement purpose of this policy (and) why would Homeland Security or ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] be transporting these individuals to Tucson from as far away as Texas?” Gosar said. “There’s lots of questions that we want answered.”

Gosar said he also wants to know how many people have been dropped off and what instructions were given to them.

Gosar sent a letter Monday addressed to Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, as well as to other ranking members, requesting the investigation of what Gosar called “questionable and potentially dangerous actions” being taken by the Obama administration, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.

The letters come on the same day that President Obama called the influx of child migrants coming across the Mexico and U.S. border an “urgent humanitarian” issue, according to the Associated Press, to which Gosar said he wonders why then so many people were dropped off in the Arizona heat without resources.

“The urgency right now is the inhumane and ludicrous application here, particularly in the hot weather,” Gosar said. “Particularly with people who are very susceptible to the heat and food and water … what were they [the federal government] thinking?”

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer also sent a two-page letter to President Obama on Monday asking several questions about the issues and expressing concern of the actions of DHS and ICE.

She also expressed concern over first learning of the dropoffs through the media, rather than being personally notified.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu also weighed in on the situation Monday.

“All they [the immigrants] have to do is sign a promise to appear in 15 or 30 days to the court. This is insanity,” Babeu told KTAR. “These people (that) have come from foreign countries have broke the law, and we’re not enforcing the law on them.

“This is the most insane, frustrating process — to be in law enforcement and to have our own federal government work at cross-purposes directly against us.”

Gosar said he is also curious as to why Gov. Brewer was not consulted before the immigrants were dropped off and said he supports her seeking reparations.

“We would hope that she would also look into legal ramifications (against) the federal government, as far as a suit, for compensation for having to take care of these people — because that is a federal issue, and without consultation with the state, they should be liable for those directive costs,” he said.