Trump Administration Issues New Memos on Illegal Immigration Crackdown

Last month, President Donald J. Trump fulfilled a major campaign promise by signing two executive orders on immigration and border security, paving the way for a wall to be build along the U.S.-Mexico border.

President Trump’s orders not only began the process of building a border wall, but also instructed the Department of Homeland Security to hire an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents, end the controversial “catch and release” program, and crack down on the illegal sanctuary cities that have been plaguing this country.

Well, the Trump administration on Tuesday further stressed its commitment to crackdown on illegal immigration, issuing a series of memos tightening the nation’s deportation and detention rules.

The memos, released by the Department of Homeland Security, explain that nearly every illegal immigrant in this country is subject to deportation, a departure from the Obama administration’s policy of providing safe haven to some individuals living here illegally.

From The Wall Street Journal:

Almost everybody living in the U.S. illegally is now subject to deportation, and more undocumented arrivals at the southern border would be jailed or sent back to Mexico to await a hearing rather than released into the U.S., under memos issued Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security.

“The Department no longer will exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement,” the enforcement memo says. “Department personnel have full authority to arrest or apprehend an alien whom an immigration officer has probable cause to believe is in violation of the immigration laws.”

The memos still outline priority groups, starting with serious criminals. But the priorities are much broader and include people charged with crimes who haven’t been convicted, people guilty only of immigration-related crimes such as using false documents, and anybody who an immigration officer believes is a risk to public safety.

DHS officials said they wouldn’t target otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants and don’t plan roundups of illegal immigrants, and said their limited resources would still require a focus on those people who pose a public-safety risk.

As President Trump repeatedly promised, those illegal immigrants who have been convicted of a criminal offense would be DHS’ first priority when it comes to deportation. Rather than allow criminal illegal immigrants to roam our streets wreaking havoc on the American public, President Trump has authorized DHS to take action.

Furthermore, President Trump’s pledge to end the “catch and release” program should be welcoming news to America’s immigration enforcers who shouldn’t have to deal with illegal immigrants being released into the general population after being arrested.

What are your thoughts on these memos further tightening DHS’ pledge to crackdown on illegal immigration in this country? Share your thoughts below! 

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