Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan told a Senate panel on Thursday that all illegal border crossers are currently being released from custody and most receive work permits within a month or two. McAleenan testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee regarding the ongoing border surge that has seen a record number of family units apprehended in just the first half of the current fiscal year.
Freshman Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) introduced legislation this week aimed at ending sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Earlier this week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement accused officials in Prince Georges County in Maryland for releasing two illegal aliens suspected of murder after ICE had issued a detainer request.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who also chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee that has jurisdiction over immigration, announced the introduction of a new bill that would address the ongoing border crisis. Specifically, Sen. Graham's bill would attempt to fix some of the loopholes that have led to a record-number of family units crossing the border illegally in recent months, although text of his legislation have yet to be released.
The Republican Study Committee's budget proposal for FY2020 suggests reducing low-skilled immigration, requiring all businesses to use E-Verify, and increasing both border and interior enforcement. The budget outline provides a starting point for House GOP lawmakers considering the committee is comprised of 140 Republican House Members, or more than 70% of the caucus.
A new Washington Post/ABC poll finds that Americans are increasing growing more concerned about the situation along the Southern border. 80% of adults are "seriously concerned" about the situation or consider it a crisis. Registered voters are slightly more likely to be "seriously concerned" or to consider it a crisis.
Border Patrol officers apprehended 92,607 illegal border crossers during the month of March, marking the highest number of apprehensions in a single month since May 2006. In addition, more than 10,000 migrants presented themselves at ports of entry and were deemed to be inadmissible.
Kirstjen Nielsen stepped down as chief of the Department of Homeland Security on Sunday as the ongoing border crisis continues to worsen. Kevin McAleenan, who currently heads Customs and Border Protection, will take over in the interim.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan told reporters on Wednesday during a visit to El Paso that the immigration system is nearing its "breaking point." He said Border Patrol officers have taken in more than 12,000 illegal border crossers over the last two days -- a level he described as "unprecedented."