Biden admin releases migrants into US without tracking.

Biden Administration Plans to Release Illegal Migrants into the U.S.

Unacceptable Strategy

The Biden administration is reportedly preparing a memo for Border Patrol agents that would direct them to release illegal migrants into the U.S. interior with minimal processing and little oversight. This strategy has been criticized by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “unacceptable.” Instead of enforcing U.S. immigration laws, the Biden administration is enabling mass catch and release, which is not acceptable in a nation of laws.

DHS Responds

A representative with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told NBC that the memo would only apply to illegal immigrants who have been vetted for safety. The targeted use of parole will allow Border Patrol to focus its resources most effectively to quickly process and remove individuals who do not have a legal basis to remain in the country. Each parole will be considered on an individualized case-by-case basis, and individuals who are released will be required to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and undergo removal proceedings in immigration court. Individuals may be placed into an Alternatives to Detention program to ensure compliance, if deemed appropriate.

Tracking and Compelling Illegal Migrants

Tracking and compelling illegal migrants to appear for immigration trials has been a serious problem for immigration authorities. In 2017, immigration courts reported that migrants failed to appear at their court hearing after being set free in the U.S. 43% of the time.

Reviving a Trump-Era Immigration Policy

In addition to releasing migrants into the country, the Biden administration is also reviving a Trump-era immigration policy that President Joe Biden was critical of during the 2020 election. The Biden administration finalized a rule in the Federal Register on Wednesday that disqualifies migrants from applying for asylum in the U.S. if they neglected to first apply for asylum in other countries they traveled through, such as Mexico. Biden previously panned former President Donald Trump for the rule in 2020.