CBP Can’t Say How Many Illegal Immigrants Have Been Released Into U.S. Without Court Dates

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is unwilling or unable to say how many illegal immigrants crossing the southern border have been released without court dates since the start of 2021.

The Daily Caller News Foundation questioned a CBP spokesperson on the number of migrants that have been released without Notices to Appear (NTA) in court.

“Border officials won’t say how many illegal immigrants are caught and released without set court dates, though nearly 25,000 were issued Notices to Appear in immigration court in the first two months of 2021,” the report states.

The spokesperson “did not have the statistics available and did not answer the … question” regarding the release of illegals without court notices, or in some cases, without any paperwork at all.

CBP won’t say how many migrants are being released without court dates: Why should they tell us? We are only citizens, and being a citizen doesn’t count for much with this regime. https://t.co/Ge8H2eEXZC

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) April 7, 2021

RELATED: Some Illegal Immigrants Being Released Into U.S. Without Paperwork Or Court Notices At The Border

CBP Overwhelmed – Releasing Illegal Immigrants Without Court Date

National Border Patrol Council spokesman Chris Cabrera explained to the Daily Caller last month why illegal immigrants are being released without a court date.

“There are too many people and we’re not equipped to deal with this many people,” he stated.

Cabrera told the Associated Press after reports surfaced last month that migrants were being released without paperwork that “it’s good because it’s less paperwork for our guys.”

Cabrera said paperwork can sometimes take well over an hour to prepare for each individual.

The Daily Caller report notes that CBP had encountered “over 100,000 migrants” in February with the Rio Grande Valley sector in south Texas actually seeing over 1,000 apprehensions in two separate 24-hour timeframes.

Overwhelmed and underprepared, U.S. authorities are releasing migrant families on the Mexican border without notices to appear in immigration court or sometimes without any paperwork at all. https://t.co/i5LbcKIZ86

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 1, 2021

RELATED: President Biden Gets Low Marks For His Handling Of Border Crisis In New Poll

Republicans Demand Answers

House Republicans last month demanded answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on why illegals are being released without paperwork or court dates.

“Despite your repeated claims that ‘the border is secure,’ these reports raise serious questions about DHS’ commitment to faithfully enforcing the law,” a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas read.

CBP being unwilling – or unable – to provide data raises even more questions.

.@SenJohnHoeven says migrants “know if they cross the border they’re here to stay” because he claims they ‘don’t return for their court dates.’ @Tom_Basile https://t.co/VlT7z8drtO pic.twitter.com/krzMNDlya2

— Newsmax (@newsmax) April 3, 2021

It wasn’t just Republicans who have voiced concerns.

Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents Texas’ 28th Congressional District on the southern border, warned that the move to release illegal immigrants without an NTA is “unprecedented” and is “providing an incentive” for a surge at the border.

Border state Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar to Biden: “you provide an incentive” for illegal immigration, “the ones who are coming in, they’re not tested [for coronavirus]…so if they get on a bus, they can travel anywhere” in the US https://t.co/1uZvaSP8qc pic.twitter.com/I1SyiYgCQr

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 7, 2021

A new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates a majority of Americans disapprove of President Biden’s handling of the ongoing crisis at the border.

Mayorkas recently admitted the United States is on pace to see the most migrants breaching the border “in the last 20 years” and has reportedly considered closing gaps in the border wall left unfilled by President Biden’s order to halt construction.