The rules, outlined in two memos released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday, states that the Department’s personnel have “full authority to arrest or apprehend an alien whom an immigration officer has probable cause to believe is in violation of the immigration laws.”
A plan to establish more detention facilities is also outlined.
‘Expedited removals’
The new rules would also subject immigrants who cannot show they have been in the country for more than two years to “expedited removal.”
“The surge of illegal immigration at the southern border has overwhelmed federal agencies and resources and has created a significant national security vulnerability to the United States. Thousands of aliens apprehended at the border, placed in removal proceedings, and released from custody have absconded and failed to appear at their removal hearings…” one of the memos states, citing a “backlog” of removal cases.
It goes on to say that the average removal case for an alien who has not been detained can sit pending before an immigration judge for more than two years, while some will not have their cases heard for as long as five years.
“This unacceptable delay affords removable aliens with no plausible claim for relief to remain unlawfully in the United States for many years,” the memo states.
Currently, only those apprehended near a US border who cannot show that they’ve been in the country for more than 14 days are subject to removal.
Meanwhile, the plan also outlines an aim to “immediately identify and allocate all sources of available funding for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance” of a border wall between Mexico – one of Trump’s key campaign promises. Read More
