Last November, responding to a request that he issue an executive order on immigration reform, Barack Obama said, “If, in fact, I could solve all these problems without passing this through Congress, then I would do so. But we’re also a nation of laws. That’s part of our tradition.” Unfortunately, laws are not part of his tradition, and his only “reform” is to do what’s politically expedient. His pandering lip service notwithstanding, the Obama administration has continued its lawless ways when it comes to handling illegal aliens.

According to a new study from the non-partisan think tank Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), 36,007 illegal immigrants were released from custody last year after being convicted of a crime and despite going through deportation proceedings. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) said, “This would be considered the worst prison break in American history, except it was sanctioned by the president and perpetrated by our own immigration officials. The administration’s actions are outrageous. They willfully and knowingly put the interests of criminal immigrants before the safety and security of the American people.”

Of the released criminals, convictions include 193 for homicide, 426 for sexual assault, 303 for kidnapping, 1,075 for aggravated assault, 1,160 for vehicle theft, 9,187 for illegal drug violations, 16,070 for drunk or drugged driving, and 303 for flight escape.

CIS reports, “Separate information obtained by the Center for Immigration Studies reveals that the vast majority of these releases were discretionary, or even contrary to the requirements of various provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Only a small share of these criminal aliens (fewer than 3,000) were released in accordance with a 2001 Supreme Court decision, Zadvydas v. Davis, which prevents ICE from indefinitely detaining certain aliens whose countries will not accept them back.”

The law also requires that the State Department stop issuing visas to residents of nations that refuse to take back deported people, but Hillary Clinton and John Kerry continued to do so.

Furthermore, in some instances, the CIS report found the releases were contrary to the Immigration and Nationality Act. “[D]espite professions of a focus on removal of criminal aliens,” the report’s summary said, “Obama administration policies frequently have allowed political considerations to trump public safety factors and, as a result, aliens with serious criminal convictions have been allowed to return to the streets instead of being removed to their home countries.”

Obama explained away the release, saying, “Most of them are not making trouble,” adding that it’s “not smart” to enforce the law against non-violent offenders. In the face of this report on the numbers of violent offenders who were released, his cavalier comments add insult to injury.

This release continues Obama’s general policy of non-enforcement when it comes to illegal aliens, a.k.a. future Democrat voters. Therefore, it’s all the more clear that before any legislative reform takes place, the administration must enforce the laws on the books. Until he upholds Rule of Law, the president is merely doing the only thing he does well: play political games. Unfortunately, these games are a national security issue that could cost lives.