Background
An illegal immigrant who failed to appear at his immigration hearing has been arrested and deported, highlighting the ongoing border crisis. The individual, initially encountered near San Ysidro, California, on June 10, 2021, was served with a notice to appear in an immigration court. However, he was released into the country under the Alternatives to Detention program, which provides some form of tracking while migrants await their hearing. Despite being ordered to appear at an immigration hearing in Newark, NJ on February 24, 2023, the individual did not comply and was eventually apprehended in December during a targeted enforcement action in New Jersey.
ICE’s Priority
The Enforcement and Removal Operation (ERO) Philadelphia Field Office Director, Cammilla Wamsley, emphasized that the protection of the American public from dangerous individuals is the primary mission of ICE. She stated, “We will continue to vehemently target individuals who pose a threat to the American public.”
Border Crisis
The deportation of this individual comes amidst an ongoing border crisis, with Border Patrol agents struggling to cope with record numbers of encounters. In December, there were more than [insert number] encounters, breaking the previous record set in FY 23 with 2.4 million encounters. Republicans have expressed concerns about the release of migrants into the interior, while the Biden administration asserts the need for additional funding and congressional action to address the “broken” system.
Legislative Efforts
Lawmakers are currently working towards a deal to provide supplemental funding requested by the White House. The Biden administration has sought $14 billion in funding for the border, including expedited removals, aid to cities, and increased detention. However, Republicans have demanded stricter asylum limits and restrictions on the administration’s use of parole. The proposed legislation is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Recent Enforcement Actions
This announcement follows a recent report that ICE had conducted an operation resulting in the apprehension of 100 illegal immigrants wanted for various crimes, including child sexual assault and murder, across the country. Among those arrested were individuals involved in heinous crimes such as child pornography, rape, and murder. In FY 23 alone, ICE arrested over 73,000 illegal immigrants with criminal histories, leading to more than 290,000 associated charges and convictions.
Sources:
- Fox News’ Bill Melugin and Chris Pandolfo
- ICE
