Over 15,300 migrants were released from federal custody without formal immigration court notices since the immigration crisis began as Biden took office.
The system is officially broken!
Catch & release' migrants w/out court date total more than 15,300, Texas Democrat says!
It’s all on the “honor” system that they’ll show up for their court hearing! https://t.co/LLTERFH3yv
— Keric Allen (@KericAllen) April 25, 2021
On Tuesday, a South Texas lawmaker told Border report that there are over 15,300 migrants that were released from federal custody without going through the immigration process.
This latest data shows a dramatic increase in April of the “fast-tracked” releases. However, Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar calls it instead an “honor system” which is thousands higher compared to just 2,000 migrant at the end of March.
Cuellar said, “Basically it’s just an honor system. It’s just a honor system that they are given and this is not the way it’s supposed to be.”
In an effort to sort, process, and separate migrants during this COVID-19 pandemic and determine who will be moved to other facilities, federal officials are releasing thousands of migrants faster than usual and are giving them what is known as a booking report or 385 forms.
If CBP expects more apprehensions this year than at any point in the past 2 decades, we need to create common-sense solutions that will address the current surge of migration.
I introduced legislation w/ @JohnCornyn, @SenatorSinema, & @RepTonyGonzales that will do just that. https://t.co/hfr6OJTKgZ
— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) April 23, 2021
Unaccompanied migrant children however are not fast-tracked and instead taken into the care and custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. Yet the number of youth is unprecented as they are taking up much of the space in the facilities that were previously used to house migrants. This triggered thousands of migrant adults to be fast-tracked in the field, according to border experts.
Currently, the HHS has at least 20,346 unaccompanied children in custody.
On Friday, a 10-year-old migrant was found by U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Hastings, walking alone in the “same area” where the 10-year-old boy had been previously abandoned by cartel human traffickers earlier this month. According to the video that was posted on social media by Hastings, showing the boy who was found under a tractor overnight.
Fast-tracked release of migrants without court notices surpasses 15,300, Texas Democrat confirms https://t.co/pcfo5QLoEA
— WGNO-TV (ABC) New Orleans (@WGNOtv) April 21, 2021
Meanwhile, CBP officials revealed to Border Report that they still have the discretion while being in the field to assess each apprehension individually and that operational policy permits them to deviate from the usual processes depending on each circumstance.
According to a statement form the Department of Homeland Security, “In some cases, families are placed in removal proceedings further along in the release process rather than while they are at the border patrol station.” The added, “All families, however, are screened at the border patrol station, including the collection of biographical and biometric information and criminal and national security records checks.”
Traditionally, migrants paroled are given a Notice to Appear or NTA document. This document indicates when and where they are to appear before an immigration judge. This also makes it clear that they are to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office within 9- days.
S.1007: A bill to require that certain aliens receive written notice of removal proceedings before being granted parole or released from detention and to enumerate the possible consequences for failing to attend such proceedings. https://t.co/aItfNGhHEB
— Daily Bill Bot (@DailyBillBot) April 21, 2021
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), has openly supported a bill in Congress that would require migrants to receive a “written notice of removal proceedings before being granted parole or released from detention and to enumerate the possible consequences for failing to attend such proceedings.”
The bill was filed last month by Senator Tommy Tuberville a Republican from Alabama. It is currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In a statement Tuberville said, “Our facilities at the border are bursting at the seams, and because we’ve simply run out of space, we’re releasing illegal migrants into our country with no real accountability, or date to appear in court.”
It can be noted that last month, Cruz was among several different groups of lawmakers who visited the South Texas border to see the overwhelming influx of migrants, lack of space in the holding facilities as well to speak with Border Patrol agents on enforcement methods.
Cruz also said in a statement, “There is an absolute humanitarian, national security, and public health crisis unfolding at our border, worsened by the current administration’s irresponsible political decision to return to ‘catch and release,’ a policy that has allowed hundreds of illegal aliens to be released in communities across Texas — with no expectation for them to return for a court date.” He continued, “I am proud to join Senator Tuberville on this bill to ensure we defend the rule of law and hold those who break it accountable.”
