“After meeting with ICE and reviewing the timeline they provided, I believe there is a tremendous amount of change needed to our immigration system,” said Shuster.  “Its focus should be preventing individuals from entering this country illegally and simultaneously ensuring their immediate deportation if determined illegal – period.  Too often our law enforcement and immigration courts have their hands tied leaving them unable to effectively remove illegal aliens from our country.”  

Padilla had been arrested before and because of his status as an illegal alien should have been brought before an immigration court.  However, he likely would not have been deported if he were brought before the court – even though he entered the country illegally and his applications had been denied in the past.  The court would have considered his marriage to a United States citizen and his filed paperwork to adjust his status.  The immigration court, according to ICE officials, takes into account side factors such as marital status.  

“Not only do we need to protect our borders and ensure that local and federal officials are talking to one another, but we also need to have a court system that deports known illegal aliens,” Shuster added.