Biden’s ‘Catch and Release Agenda’ ‘Violates His Constitutional Duty’: Abbott

President Joe Biden “catch and release” Texas Governor Rick Perry said that illegal immigrants who cross the U.S. Southern border are in violation of his constitutional duty. Greg Abbott spoke out Thursday following a Federal Court’s rejection of the program.

“Yesterday, another federal court announced what Texans—and Americans—have known all along: President Biden’s open border policies are, in the words of Judge Wetherell, ‘akin to posting a flashing Come In We’re Open sign on the southern border,'” Abbott, a Republican said it in a statement.

The federal government’s program of releasing illegal immigrants into the United States rather than holding them until their cases are resolved violates federal law, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, a Trump appointee, ruled on March 8.

“The evidence establishes that Defendants have effectively turned the Southwest Border into a meaningless line in the sand and little more than a speedbump for aliens flooding into the country,” Wetherell stated in The ruling.

Abbott attacked Biden’s response to the ruling. Alternatives to Detention program, which has released more than 1 million illegal immigrants into the U.S. interior.

“President Biden’s catch-and-release agenda, which violates his constitutional duty to enforce federal immigration laws, has catalyzed an unprecedented crisis of illegal immigration at our southern border and throughout our nation,” Abbott stated.

‘Dereliction of Duty’

The governor’s office issued a statement urging Biden to enforce the existing immigration laws. “aggressively” Prosecution of illegal border crossings from ports of entry. Abbott’s office noted that Congress has explicitly mandated that certain illegal immigrants be prosecuted at the border. “shall” be taken into custody

Wetherell stated in the new ruling that the phrase “shall be detained” in the Immigration and Nationality Act mandates the requirement that immigrants who arrive at the border without proper documents are subject to quick removal without a hearing or review.

Immigration officials are subject to Supreme Court precedent “broad discretion” When enforcing immigration law, it is important to follow all laws established by Congress.

Abbott’s office condemned what it called Biden administration’s actions “lawlessness” President’s “dereliction of duty” It is important to understand what it is called “record-breaking levels of illegal immigration.”

“In 2023 alone, this surge of illegal immigration will saddle Texas taxpayers with an estimated financial burden of $13.3 billion,” Abbott noted.

The statement stated that each illegal immigrant will cost Texas taxpayers more than $4,400.

Nationally, the associated costs directly related to illegal immigrants run in the hundreds of millions every day, expected to cost U.S. taxpayers $150.7 billion in fiscal year 2023, according to A recent report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

“In total, the gross cost of illegal immigration now total $183 billion, up more than 35.7 percent since 2017. The cost incurred per illegal alien (including their U.S.-born children) has increased as well, now totaling $8,776 annually,” The report says so.

The report stated that illegal immigrants are responsible for medical care, tuition, incarceration and federal welfare. Only a small fraction of these costs can be recouped through taxes paid by illegal immigrants (roughly $31 billion).

Ruling

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (a Republican) In 2021, sued the government Concerning its catch-and release policy, the plaintiffs argued it was in violation of federal law.

Biden administration officials claimed they were entitled to the discretion under Supreme Court precedent, which gives immigration officials the right to act as they please “broad discretion” In the execution of immigration laws.

But Wetherell noted the federal government is still required to adhere to laws established by Congress, specifically the Immigration and Nationality Act. It is important to note the “shall be detained” The judge stated the government’s position in this form: “would render mandatory detention under” The law “meaningless.”

Florida, which has been dealing with an illegal immigration crisis, was found to have standing to sue the Biden administration because the federal government’s failure to hold immigrants as required by the law harms the state because “they cannot do anything to keep those aliens out of the state.”

According to the ruling, states also suffer because they have to pay money to handle illegal immigrants.

Wetherell declared the policy invalid under the procedure act and remanded it to the government for any further work in accordance with his order.

Moody stated that the ruling confirmed that Biden had been “responsible for the border crisis and his unlawful immigration policies make this country less safe.”

The Epoch Times reached out to the Department of Homeland Security in order to get comment.

Zachary Stieber contributed this report.