In the wake of the death of a second migrant child in federal detention, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen blamed smugglers, traffickers, and migrant parents for pushing border security systems to the “breaking point.” She cited several “draw factors” that caused the recent surge, including an asylum process that encourages fraudulent claims and rewards parents for sending or bringing their children across the border.
CBS’ El Paso, Texas affiliate reports ICE released about 400 alien parents and children in the two days before Christmas and another 186 on Christmas day. Most were dropped off near the local Greyhound bus station and eventually assisted by local charities. More are expected to be released today.
The House of Representatives passed a spending bill Thursday evening that included $5.7 billion for the building of a barrier on the U.S. border. The Senate must pass the House bill by midnight Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown.
DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced an agreement on Thursday with Mexico that will keep asylum seekers in Mexico until their cases are heard by an immigration judge. Under the new agreement, migrants who ask for asylum at a port of entry or illegal aliens apprehended by border patrol who ask for asylum will be issued a court date and returned to Mexico. Mexico has agreed to allow any foreign citizen with an a notice to appear in court to stay in Mexico until the date arrives.
Federal District Judge Emmet Sullivan struck down the Trump administration's efforts to bring the 'credible fear' standard more in line with federal asylum law. Earlier this year, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions ruled that asylum seekers could not enter a 'credible fear' claim on the basis of domestic abuse or gang violence when seeking asylum in the United States. Federal law states that asylum seekers must prove that they fear persecution from their government on the basis of race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, or membership in a social group.
President Trump’s 1/27/17 executive order directed the Departments of State and Homeland Security to force “recalcitrant” countries to accept the repatriation of their citizens, most of whom committed criminal acts in the United States. Reports indicate the Administration is making headway since the number of recalcitrant countries is down and more criminal aliens are being deported.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced today a 7-week spending bill that, if approved with Congress, would delay the fight over Pres. Trump's border security funding request until February. Congress risks a partial government shutdown if it doesn't pass legislation for nine agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, before the end of Friday.
On Tuesday, the White House sent a signal that President Trump was no longer asking Congress to appropriate $5 billion for border wall spending. Instead, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the White House would cobble together other sources of funding to supplement the $1.6 billion already agreed to by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
In recent years, the New York Times has reliably reported the best arguments for immigration expansion and periodic legalizations, but its story this week may be the furthest the Gray Lady has gone toward presenting arguments in favor of perpetual illegal immigration.
The story, if taken seriously, has profound implications.
