United States, 22nd February: The latest news is that New Trump immigration orders target almost all undocumented immigrants.
Memos signed by the DHS(Department of Home Secretary) reveal sweeping new rules for deportation of undocumented immigrants in the US.
New Trump Immigration Orders Target Almost All Undocumented Immigrants
New orders shall authorize agents to deport nearly all undocumented immigrants in the US. There are plans for increasing the number of US immigration agents.
As per the details, the new sweeping guidelines have widened the scope for deportations. So, this could mean deportation for almost all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US. US President Donald Trump wanted to take the shackles off US immigration agents, revealed Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary.
The DHS Secretary, John Kelly, stated that increase in undocumented immigration at the southern border has frustrated federal agencies as well as resources. Moreover, it’s a national security threat to the US, he added.
Who all could be covered under Trump’s Policy of Deportation?
- Millions of undocumented immigrants living in the US unlawfully may be targeted for deportation.
- These include immigrants arrested for traffic violations.
- Any immigrant in the US unlawfully and convicted or charged of any offense, or even suspected of any crime, shall now become an enforcement priority, says the Homeland Security Department memos. These could be individuals arrested for minor offenses like shoplifting or having crossed the border unlawfully.
- Immigrants who are not able to prove they have been in the US for at least two years shall be liable to expedited removal. Currently, immigrants apprehended near the border who are unable to prove they have been in the US for more than 14 days are liable to rapid removal.
- ICE agents are being instructed to detail immigrants awaiting a court decision on whether they shall be deported or offered relief, like asylum.
- Overstaying a US visa is civil offense and not a criminal offense. So, those guilty of overstaying a visa may not be specifically included in the priority list. However, as per the memos, they may still be quite likely to face deportation than earlier.
- The agency has plans to send non-Mexican migrants crossing the southern US border back to Mexico as they await a decision in their respective cases.
New Trump Immigration Orders—increased threat of deportation
The new guidelines by Trump simply spell increased threat of deportation for undocumented immigrants in the US. The DHS, with extremely limited exceptions, is not going to exempt categories or classes of removal immigrants from potential enforcement, the new memos warn.
New Trump orders will authorize officials to seek expedited deportation proceedings(currently limited to undocumented immigrants in the US for two weeks or less) to anyone in the US for up to two years.
The agency shall be prioritizing undocumented immigrants considered to be a threat, stated the DHS officials. All those guilty of violation of US immigration rules might be subject to enforcement proceedings. This could include removal from the US, the orders reveal.
Related Read – Trump’s Immigration Orders Affecting Fate of Immigrants
New Trump Immigration Orders to spare US ‘Dreamer’ Immigrants
New Trump administration orders will leave protections intact for 750,000 immigrants having come to the US unlawfully as children. They are offered protection under Obama administration’s program named DACA(Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). They have been provided with US work permits by Obama administration for living and working in the US.
New Immigration Enforcement staff to be hired
The new memos have called for recruiting nearly 5,000 new Border Patrol agents along with 10,000 ICE(Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents. Meanwhile, its not clear when will such recruitment take place. There are plans to assign local authorities for acting as US immigration officers.