Thanks to the U.S. Homeland Security Department, illegal immigrants who feel that their rights have been violated under President Barack Obama's amnesty policy now have their own hotline to call.
In its announcement memo, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency advised illegal immigrants: "If you believe you (or a family member) were apprehended and processed by a Customs and Border Protection officer or Border Patrol agent contrary to the new DHS enforcement priorities, please tell us about your experience by contacting the CBP."
According to The Washington Times, the department informed illegal immigrants, referred to as "stakeholders," of three complaint hotlines.
In addition to the CBP's hotline, one was provided to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which deals with internal immigration issues, and to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which will handle the millions of amnesty applications expected to be filed, according to The Washington Times.
"This provides one place for all stakeholders to find out more about the new DHS guidelines, deferred action, eligibility for new initiatives, or to register comment or complaint," DHS spokeswoman Ginette Magana said, reported the International Business Times. "DHS continuously engages with stakeholders, members of Congress and interested individuals to provide the most up-to-date information and answer questions about any new initiatives."
Many border patrol agents are insulted by the complaint lines, according to The Washington Times.
"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," said Shawn Moran, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, the labor union that represents agents. "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."
Obama's amnesty policy will provide temporary legal status to millions of illegal immigrants. Border patrol and immigration agents have been advised to focus efforts on deporting violent and dangerous immigrants rather than nonviolent immigrants or those with minor criminal records.
Conservatives and Republican lawmakers have criticized Obama's executive actions, saying they violate the constitution and will only encourage more illegal immigrants who feel they will be rewarded for breaking the law.
