National Review
Biden Admin. ‘Capture and Release’ relaunches as illegal border crossings return to ‘crisis’ levels
The Biden government is bringing back the so-called “catch and release” policy on the southern border, just as illegal crossings are increasing and overwhelming detention centers. US Customs and Border Protection is re-implementing the Obama-era policy of releasing newly detained migrants back to US cities along the southern Texas border, citing concerns about coronavirus in detention facilities, as well as the growing number of detained migrants. The pandemic has undermined the CBP’s ability to house and transport detained migrants, the agency said, and in the meantime the number of migrants arriving at the border and crossing the U.S. illegally is increasing, especially unaccompanied children and Central American families. Some of the new migrants said that violence and poverty in their home countries, as well as promises of a more receptive USA under President Biden, motivated their decision to undertake the journey north, to the border with the United States. In addition, Mexico refuses to accept families with children under 12 in areas with large and growing camps for migrants, CBP said. “CBP has seen a steady increase in border meetings since April 2020, which, compounded by the restrictions of COVID-19 and guidelines for social distance, has caused some facilities to reach maximum safe holding capacity,” said the official. CBP public relations officer Rod Kise. “According to long-standing practice, when long-term detention solutions are not possible, some migrants will be sued for removal, will receive an Attendance Notice and will be released in the USA to await a future immigration hearing. As the administration analyzes the current immigration process, comparing it with the current pandemic, we will continue to use all current authorities to avoid keeping individuals in a congregated environment for any period of time, ”continued Kise. On Tuesday, President Biden signed an executive order rescinding an order from the Trump administration ending the “catch and release” policy and directing further improvements to immigration enforcement. Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf warned on Friday that illegal border crossings have increased in recent months, creating a “very dangerous” situation on the southern border. CBP currently faces between 3,000 and 3,500 illegal border crossings every day, Wolf said. He noted that in 2019, former Obama administration DHS secretary Jeh Johnson said that 1,000 illegal crossings overload the system, calling 4,000 seizures at a “crisis” level per day. The increase in illegal border crossings in 2019 was the last time that CBP was forced to resume the capture and release policy. Wolf also pointed out that Border Patrol agents arrested eleven Iranian citizens on Monday night near San Luis, Arizona, after they illegally crossed the border.