 NEW INS COMMISSIONER NAMED
Nearly three months into the Bush administration, a new INS Commissioner was finally named. Following months of rumors about who would fill the position, an article in Roll Call, a daily paper covering Congress, said Senate Sergeant-at-Arms James Ziglar may be named to the position. This proved true Friday night, when President Bush named Ziglar to the position.
Ziglar must be confirmed by the Senate, which is familiar with him because of his work as Sergeant at Arms, the chief protocol and law enforcement position in the Senate. Ziglar, an attorney and former investment banker denied reports that he was unhappy in his current position, but did say that he is looking for more challenges.
Few positions could be more challenging than INS Commissioner. The agency has seen such tremendous growth in recent years that many see it as an agency that is now out of control. There is also growing bipartisan support of a move to split the agency into two divisions, one dealing with service and the other with enforcement. President Bush supports such a move, and made it a focal point of his campaign last year.
The majority party chooses the Sergeant-at-Arms, so Ziglar is a Republican. He arrived in this position just before impeachment proceedings against former President Clinton began. According to Democratic Senate leaders, throughout this process Ziglar was impartial and performed his duties for the Senate, not for a political party.
Little is known about Ziglar’s position on immigration issues.
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