McCain, Napolitano spar on border issues

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told a U.S. Senate committee security along the border with Mexico has improved under the Obama administration.

During testimony before the Senate Homeland Security Committee Wednesday, Napolitano denied President Barack Obama has set a new policy on illegal immigration, saying internal memos that appear to show that are "misconstrued, misinterpreted and just wrong," ABC News reported.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accused Napolitano, a former Arizona governor, of changing her views after moving to Washington.

"You know, Secretary Napolitano, there's an old saying about your duties on policy, 'It's not where you stand, it's where you sit,'" McCain said. "What in the world is going on here?"

McCain asked Napolitano if it was true that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has proposed barring police from identifying illegal aliens in traffic stops unless they have felony convictions and Napolitano responded that the proposal is to make felons a priority for deportation.

Napolitano said fewer people are entering the country illegally from Mexico and more are being apprehended.