Republicans want the immigration data so they can see what kinds of decisions the administration is making about who it chooses to deport and who it decides not to pursue.
The House immigration subcommittee issued a subpoena Friday demanding Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano turn over records showing which illegal immigrants her department has declined to pursue deportation cases against.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, Texas Republican, set a Nov. 10 deadline for turning over the information, which includes the identities of any foreigners who have been arrested and referred to Homeland Security, but whom the government either didn’t take custody or didn’t put into removal proceedings.A spokesman for Ms. Napolitano said they were working to turn over the information even without the subpoena.