Alito Confirmation Hearings: on Immigration


Herbert Kohl: Alito sided against immigrants 88% of the time

SEN. KOHL: The Washington Post analyzed your record as a 3rd Circuit judge for the past 15 years. They analyzed 221 cases. In immigration cases, The Post also found that you sided with immigrants who were trying to win asylum or block deportation only in one out of eight cases analyzed. This was much less than most judges in a national sample, [who sided with the immigrant 50% of the time].

ALITO: In the area of immigration, Congress has spoken clearly. As to factual decisions that are made by an immigration judge, Congress has told us, "You are not to disturb those unless no reasonable fact finder could have reached the conclusion that the immigration judge did." My role is not to substitute my judgment for that of the immigration judge. My job is to say, "Could a reasonable person have reached the conclusion that the immigration judge did?" And if I find that a reasonable person could have reached that conclusion, then it's my job to deny the petition for review.

Source: Sam Alito Senate Confirmation Hearings Jan 11, 2006

Samuel Alito: Voted against immigrants because Congress set law that way

SEN. KOHL: The Washington Post analyzed your record as a 3rd Circuit judge for the past 15 years. They analyzed 221 cases. In immigration cases, The Post also found that you sided with immigrants who were trying to win asylum or block deportation only in one out of eight cases analyzed. This was much less than most judges in a national sample, [who sided with the immigrant 50% of the time].

ALITO: In the area of immigration, Congress has spoken clearly. As to factual decisions that are made by an immigration judge, Congress has told us, "You are not to disturb those unless no reasonable fact finder could have reached the conclusion that the immigration judge did." My role is not to substitute my judgment for that of the immigration judge. My job is to say, "Could a reasonable person have reached the conclusion that the immigration judge did?" And if I find that a reasonable person could have reached that conclusion, then it's my job to deny the petition for review.

Source: Sam Alito Senate Confirmation Hearings Jan 11, 2006

  • The above quotations are from Samuel Alito, Senate confirmation hearings for his Supreme Court nomination, January 2006 (plus commentary).
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Immigration.
  • Click here for more quotes by Sam Alito on Immigration.
  • Click here for more quotes by George W. Bush on Immigration.
2008 Presidential contenders on Immigration:
Republicans:
Chmn.John Cox
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Gov.Mike Huckabee
Rep.Duncan Hunter
Sen.John McCain
Rep.Ron Paul
Gov.Mitt Romney
Sen.Fred Thompson
Democrats:
Sen.Hillary Clinton
Sen.John Edwards
Sen.Mike Gravel
Rep.Dennis Kucinich
Sen.Barack Obama
Third Parties:
Green: Rep.Cynthia McKinney
Socialist: Brian Moore
Independent: Mayor Mike Bloomberg
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