Federal judge criticizes Biden DHS for not effectively monitoring undocumented immigrants.
‘Skeptical’ Federal Judge Admonishes Biden DHS Over Failure to Properly Track Illegal Aliens
A federal judge on Tuesday expressed doubts about the Department of Homeland Security’s commitment to tracking illegal immigrants under the Biden administration’s catch-and-release policy. U.S. District Judge Kent Wetherell of Florida’s Northern District had previously issued a temporary restraining order to block the release of illegal immigrants through the parole with conditions program.
This week, Judge Wetherell discovered that the Department of Homeland Security, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has no knowledge of the whereabouts of many illegal immigrants from a group of 2,572 individuals. In a two-page filing, Wetherell expressed skepticism about DHS’s seriousness in locating these individuals and taking appropriate action against them.
Data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement revealed that more than 80 percent of illegal immigrants in the catch-and-release program did not receive court summonses. Additionally, 41.4 percent of these migrants failed to check in with ICE within the specified 60-day period.
While Wetherell’s previous order temporarily halted the policy, he acknowledged that his order was too ambiguous and would not push the issue further. However, he demanded a report from DHS on their knowledge of the illegal immigrants by August 18.
Wetherell emphasized that the group of illegal immigrants beyond DHS’s reach is just the “tip of the iceberg.” He also highlighted the limited resources of ICE as a contributing factor to the low success rate in contacting these individuals.
Former immigration judge Andrew Arthur estimated that over 2 million illegal immigrants have been released in the country under this policy. He criticized DHS for its inadequate efforts in addressing this issue, stating that it reflects the Biden administration’s disregard for Congress’s laws.
A House Committee confirms what my office has been saying for years—@SecMayorkas is derelict in his duty!
The committee report relies extensively on our efforts and litigation, including Judge Kent Wetherell’s “withering rebuke” in Florida v. United States:
“[T]he evidence… pic.twitter.com/4i6p1MmMAx
— AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) July 20, 2023
A House report condemning DHS for its border policy quoted Wetherell’s prior ruling against DHS and its catch-and-release policy. The report highlighted DHS’s failure to reliably determine if released aliens pose a public safety threat and its inability to screen for criminal histories in their home countries.
The House report concluded that Alejandro Mayorkas, the head of Homeland Security, has been derelict in his duty. It accused Mayorkas of ignoring, abusing, or failing to enforce laws passed by Congress, and doing the opposite of what the law requires.
Source: The Western Journal
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