Archive for the ‘Illegal Immigration’ Category

Editorial: A wise return to Trumps border policies – Boston Herald

The U.S. Supreme Court did President Joe Biden a favor in ordering the reinstatement of the Remain in Mexico policy governing asylum-seekers from Central America.

The program, part of former President Donald Trumps Migrant Protection Protocols, was put in place in 2019 to deal with caravans of migrants who were showing up at the southern border claiming to be refugees from violence and persecution in their home countries.

Before the policy was implemented, asylum applicants were allowed to enter the country and remain in America until the hearing on their claim could be held. That could take months, and many never showed up for the hearings.

Trumps policy sent the applicants back across the border to wait for adjudication of their claim.

Within seven months, encounters at the border dropped to 36,500 a month from 144,000.

And then Biden took over and immediately scrapped Trumps immigration policies, including Remain in Mexico. In July, encounters with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border hit 200,000, a 21-year high.

Federal courts have already blocked Biden from unilaterally undoing other Trump immigration provisions, including increased use of deportation and detention and suspension of the DACA program.

In ruling Biden had overreached in suspending Remain in Mexico, a federal district judge in Texas determined the administration knew the policy was effective and had been successfully defended in court previously, and that it was aware of the consequences of scuttling the program.

The legal challenge was brought by the states of Texas and Missouri, which claimed their residents have been harmed by the presidents abandonment of effective efforts to curb illegal immigration.

Biden eliminated the programs on his first day in office for no other reason than that were implemented by Trump.

Almost immediately, the Central American caravans began re-forming and Americas southern border was again swamped by refugees.

Another successful tool used by Trump was to expel illegal border crossers under a public health order known as Title 42, intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Border control agents turned back the migrants rather than apprehending and detaining them.

Biden has kept that program in place, but is not using it nearly as often. In July, 47% of encounters resulted in expulsion, compared with 83% in January, the month he took office.

Bidens stubborn neglect of the southern border is creating a crisis for the states such as Texas and Arizona that must deal with the impact.

The presidents feeble attempt to off-load responsibility for the situation to Vice President Kamala Harris, who has treated it like a hot potato she doesnt want landing in her lap, has failed.

Conditions continue to worsen and the president doesnt have a plan for bringing them under control.

His best option is to return to the Trump plan, which was working.

The courts, in halting Bidens push to scrap his predecessors policies, have given the president an excuse for continuing Trumps methods without personally embracing them.

Biden should stop further legal action and return to what has worked to maintain a secure and orderly border.

Read more:
Editorial: A wise return to Trumps border policies - Boston Herald

US renews policy that allows expulsion of illegal immigrants over COVID fears – New York Post

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday that it had renewed a policy allowing the expulsion of illegal immigrants due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, as the number of unaccompanied children stopped at the US-Mexico border was expected to have reached an all-time high in July.

The policy, known as Title 42, would remain in effect until the CDC Director determines that the danger of further introduction of COVID-19 into the United States from covered noncitizens has ceased to be a serious danger to public health, the agency said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it would process illegal immigrants in accordance with the order, which exempts unaccompanied children and some families.

Title 42 is not an immigration authority, but a public health authority, and its continued use is dictated by CDC and governed by the CDCs analysis of public health factors, DHS said. Under Title 42, DHS continues to expel the majority of single adults, and, to the extent possible, families encountered at the Southwest Border.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other activist groups resumed a lawsuit against the Biden administration Monday over the use of Title 42, breaking off settlement talks.

Seven months of waiting for the Biden administration to end Title 42 is more than enough, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said.

We are deeply disappointed that the Biden administration has abandoned its promise of fair and humane treatment for families seeking safety, leaving us no choice but to resume litigation, added Neela Chakravartula, managing attorney for the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies.

In a court filing in the case, a top immigration official revealed Monday preliminary government figures indicated US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) picked up more than 19,000 unaccompanied children in July, exceeding the previous high of 18,877 in March. The estimated number would represent an increase of nearly 25 percent over the June total of 15,253.

David Shahoulian, DHS assistant secretary for border and immigration policy, added that about 80,000 people were encountered in family units, up more than 43 percent from the June number of 55,805.

Overall, authorities stopped illegal immigrants about 210,000 times at the border in July, up from 188,829 in June and the highest in more than 20 years.

Lawmakers from both parties have blamed the Biden administrations immigration policies for creating a surge of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border. In an effort to stem the tide, DHS announced last week it was resuming fast-track deportation flights for families to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Attempting to cross into the United States between ports of entry, or circumventing inspection at ports of entry, is the wrong way to come to the United States, DHS said in a statement.These acts are dangerous and can carry long-term immigration consequences for individuals who attempt to do so.

With Post wires

Follow this link:
US renews policy that allows expulsion of illegal immigrants over COVID fears - New York Post

Viral Claim Gets Biden’s COVID-19 Travel and Immigration Policies Wrong – FactCheck.org

SciCheck Digest

The Biden administration hasnt introduced COVID-19 travel restrictions on Americans going to Mexico since the delta variant became dominant in the U.S., and it is enforcing immigration laws at the border. But a meme falsely claiming the opposite is circulating online.

Two topics that routinely draw false claims on social media are COVID-19 and immigration at the U.S. border with Mexico.

A claim currently circulating online misrepresents the Biden administrations actions on both issues.

A Twitter account with trump won in its bio posted this false claim, which has been retweeted more than 2,700 times and shared on Facebook: The COVID delta variant is so deadly Biden is restricting travel for Americans into Mexico but is keeping the border wide open for illegal aliens to walk right into our country.

Neither of its major points is correct. Biden hasnt initiated any travel restrictions for Americans going to Mexico since the delta variant became dominant in the U.S. in July, and his administration is enforcing existing immigration laws.

As for the travel portion of the claim, the administration has recently extended restrictions on non-essential travel from Mexico into the United States at land ports of entry due to COVID-19 through Aug. 21.But the travel limits have been ineffect since March 21, 2020,and they do not prevent U.S. citizens and permanent lawful residents fromtraveling to Mexico or returning to the United States. Also,the restrictions applyonly to land and ferry border crossing, not air travel.

Although there is no restriction on Americans flying to Mexico, those who do fly there will have to provide negative COVID-19 test results before their return flight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that pandemic-related order on Jan. 12 under the previous administration, and it went into effect on Jan. 26 under Biden so its not new, either.

The State Department also urges travelers to reconsider going to Mexico since the CDC has listed the countrys COVID-19 risk level as high. Thats the third level in the CDCs four-tiered system.

The part of the claim asserting that the border is wide open for illegal aliens is also wrong. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has made hundreds of thousands of apprehensions and expulsions at the southwest border since Biden took office.

More than 500,000 expulsions were made from February to June under Title 42, a public health law the Trump administrationbegan using in March 2020 to expel people at the border in the name of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

During the Trump administration, from March 2020 to January 2021 there were more than 459,000 expulsions.

Many Democrats and immigrant advocates have urged Biden to rescind the policy, but it remains in effect.

So, the claim is wrong about both travel restrictions and border policy.

Update,Aug.3:On Aug. 2, theCDCextendedthe use of the public health order under Title 42that allows the CBP to immediately expel those trying to cross the border illegally.The CDC said it will reassess the need forthe order every 60 days and confirmed that theexception for children, which it announced on July 16,remainsin effect.

Editors note:SciChecks COVID-19/Vaccination Projectis made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The foundation hasno controlover our editorial decisions, and the views expressed in our articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the foundation. The goal of the project is to increase exposure to accurate information about COVID-19 and vaccines, while decreasing the impact of misinformation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Notification of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Mexico. Federalregister.gov. 22 Jul 2021.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Order: Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test Result or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Airline Passengers Arriving into the United States. CDC.gov. Updated 19 Jul 2021.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States. CDC.gov. Updated 6 Jul 2021.

U.S. Department of State. Mexico Travel Advisory. 12 Jul 2021.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Southwest Land Border Encounters. Accessed 29 Jul 2021.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Nationwide Enforcement Encounters: Title 8 Enforcement Actions and Title 42 Expulsions. Updated 16 Jul 2021.

See the original post:
Viral Claim Gets Biden's COVID-19 Travel and Immigration Policies Wrong - FactCheck.org

Biden Administration Sues Texas Over Abbott’s Order Restricting Illegal Immigrant Transportation – The Texan

Austin, TX, July 30, 2021 The United States Justice Department sued the State of Texas on Friday afternoon over Governor Greg Abbotts executive order restricting the transport of illegal immigrants.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, asks the court to stop enforcement of Abbotts order banning the ground transportation of migrants who have been detained for crossing the border illegally or who would have been subject to expulsion.

Signed Wednesday, Abbotts order instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion that it crossed the border illegally.

The Department of Justice claims the order has harmed U.S. government immigration efforts and could worsen the spread of the coronavirus.

The executive order violates the Supremacy Clause and causes injury to the United States and to individuals whom the United States is charged to protect, jeopardizing the health and safety of noncitizens in federal custody, risking the safety of federal law enforcement personnel and their families, and exacerbating the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, the complaint reads.

The executive order obstructs the Federal Governments arrangements with nongovernmental partners and directly interferes with the administration of federal immigration law.

Legally, the complaint argues that Abbotts order violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

It also says Abbotts order stops certain necessary migrant transportation scenarios, such as the transferral of unaccompanied children between government facilities.

Notably, Abbotts order makes an exception for law-enforcement agents at all tiers of government.

No person, other than a federal, state, or local law-enforcement official, shall provide ground transportation to a group of migrants who have been detained by CBP for crossing the border illegally or who would have been subject to expulsion under the Title 42 order, Abbotts order reads.

However, Abbotts order does not make an exception for government contractors, who transport an appreciable number of illegal aliens according to the Department of Justice brief.

Counter to the Justice Departments claims, Abbott justified his order as a needed measure not only to curb illegal immigration but primarily to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The dramatic rise in unlawful border crossings has also led to a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases among unlawful migrants who have made their way into our state, and we must do more to protect Texans from this virus and reduce the burden on our communities, Abbott said in a press release announcing the order.

This Executive Order will reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure in our communities.

Nonetheless, the Department of Justice argues in its complaint that the order will create overcrowding in facilities housing illegal aliens, heightening COVID-19 infections in turn.

The lawsuit follows an ongoing spat between Abbott and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton weighed in immediately, blaming the White House for a threat to public health arising from the border.

Until the Biden Administration abandoned its duty to secure the border, Texans faced little threat to their public health from wave upon wave of illegal immigration at our southern border, Attorney General Ken Paxton responded in a statement.

Its specifically because of this abdication that I sued this Administration on behalf of the State of Texasone of my five border-related lawsuits. To help with this problem, Governor Abbott released a much-needed (and perfectly legal) Executive Order that keeps Texas safe, secure, and healthy.

Mere moments ago, the Feds sued Texas, demanding the Order be thrown out. Not on my watch! Texas wont back down. I will defend Governor Abbotts order in court and we will work together to keep President Biden out of Texass business.

Both Abbott and Paxton have made fighting the federal government a point of pride during their respective stints as the states top law enforcement officer. Abbott, Paxtons predecessor, claimed to have sued the Obama administration more than anyone else in history and Paxton has followed a similar path during Joe Bidens presidency.

The legal fights have often centered on alleged federal overreach, and this episode is no different.

Currently, the U.S., with Texas at its epicenter, is facing a historic spike in border crossings with nearly 190,000 illegal crossing apprehensions in June.

Local law enforcement said this week that the U.S. border patrol was releasing illegal immigrants testing positive for COVID-19.

View original post here:
Biden Administration Sues Texas Over Abbott's Order Restricting Illegal Immigrant Transportation - The Texan

Tuberville takes aim at illegal immigration, anti-law enforcement rhetoric ‘Wanting safe communities is something every American wants and deserves’…

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Monday took to the Senate floor to discuss policies that he believes to be jeopardizing Americans security such as illegal immigration and efforts by some in the Democratic Party to divert funding from police forces across the nation.

When I go home back to Alabama, I usually ask the people back home whats most important to you, said Tuberville. And usually there is a consensus of three things a good job, schools for their kids, and safe neighborhoods for their families. Thats always what they talk about.

Tuberville pushed back against rhetoric used by progressives that he believes has contributed to the rise of crime numbers nationwide.

Were witnessing a nationwide surge in crime as we speak. In the last year, homicides have risen upwards of 30%, said Tuberville. This is unprecedented and double the largest previous increase of 13% since 1968. There always is more than one factor to consider when analyzing crime trends, but the effect of some Democrats anti-police rhetoric has been perfectly clear.

He continued, For the last year, weve heard some Democrats at every level talk about wanting to defund the police. Weve got too many of them. In many cities, they control democrats succeeding, theyve been very successful. Theyve told police to stop doing their jobs, stop enforcing certain laws. Too often weve seen elected officials take the side of radicals burning property, burning small businesses, over the men and women who wear the badge and have sworn to preserve and protect our communities. And now were seeing the consequences all across the country.

Alabamas junior senator then turned his criticisms toward the Biden administration regarding its policy toward immigration enforcement and border security.

Whats also not helping to make our neighborhoods safer the growing crisis at our southern border, said Tuberville. And the Biden Administration completely, completely lacks the urgency to fix it, and its getting worse every day. Weve already surpassed one million illegal immigrants since President Biden was inaugurated. And remember, this data is looking at the illegal immigrants and the drugs that the Customs and Border Protection catches. We dont know how many have slipped by.

President Biden is only making matters worse, folks, he added. As our colleagues on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee found, the Biden Administration is spending $2 billion to not build a wall. Thats $3 million every day of your taxpayer money wasted just to not build something that would help fix this crisis.

Tuberville made the argument that mass crime is antithetical to the quality of life Americans expect.

Wanting safe communities is something every American wants and deserves, he emphasized. We elect public officials, we pay taxes, and trust our governments to ensure safety for the greatest number of people possible. Its pretty much impossible to have good jobs and good schools if you dont have safe neighborhoods.

Tuberville concluded, If the people dont feel safe, their government, and we as government officials, have failed to perform its most basic function. Failure of this is not an option. So, to reverse this rise in crime, lets support the very people who put their lives on the line every day. I certainly do, and I encourage the president and members of this body to support every member of our law enforcement.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

See original here:
Tuberville takes aim at illegal immigration, anti-law enforcement rhetoric 'Wanting safe communities is something every American wants and deserves'...