The U.S. Border Patrol has reportedly been directed to admit migrants from most Eastern Hemisphere countries, defying a recent presidential order.
The directive stands in contrast with a White House policy purportedly designed to curb the volume of asylum-seekers entering the country, as the Washington Examiner reports.
The guidance came following an executive order signed by President Joe Biden, aiming to reduce the number of asylum-seekers entering the country. The initiative applies to migrants from a broad array of countries, with the exception of six nations: Georgia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Migrants from these six countries will be processed for rapid removal, referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This change contrasts with prior statements from senior Biden administration officials, who emphasized that migrants from these regions would be subject to removal rules and additional provisions. There has been a noted increase in repatriation flights, with the Department of Homeland Security conducting 36 flights in the past week alone.
The new guidance aims specifically at migrants from countries that are considered "hard or very hard to remove." Migrants from these countries will be provided with court appearances instead of facing immediate deportation.
“Extra-hemispheric migrants have always been a challenge,” commented a senior administration official, emphasizing the difficulty in imposing restrictions on such individuals. “They will be subject to these rules, provisions,” the official stated confidently. Another senior administration official remarked, “The rules measures will allow us to impose an immediate and fast consequence to migrants no matter what country they’re coming from.”
A document circulated within the Border Patrol, announcing the policy change, clearly stated, “Please see updated Presidential Proclamation guidance below, this is effective immediately.” Despite these direct instructions, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official noted that agents in San Diego would continue following expedited removal processes for migrants of all nationalities. The official attributed this to "a lack of funding to fully implement the president’s order" and indicated plans to scale up the operations when more resources become available.
Policies regarding migrants from Western Hemisphere countries, apart from certain Central American and Caribbean nations, remain stringent. These migrants will be subjected to swift expedited removal processes. Additionally, families from seven specified countries are likely to face removal proceedings.
The full list of excluded Eastern Hemisphere countries highlights the administration’s targeted focus. Meanwhile, migrants from other parts of the globe will experience varied treatment based on country-specific challenges. Migrants from countries whose citizens are difficult to repatriate have seen increased attention. The DHS has confirmed a rise in repatriation flights, emphasizing the active role of international cooperation in facilitating these returns.
This dual approach has led to mixed reactions among immigration authorities and officials tasked with enforcing the new directives. It's a complex adaptation to existing immigration laws and regulations.
The U.S. Border Patrol’s approach to admitting Eastern Hemisphere migrants raises important questions on the future of immigration policy enforcement. This directive, in contrast to President Biden's executive order, demonstrates the challenge in managing a diverse and complex migrant population.
With targeted exceptions and specialized measures in place, the administration aims to balance expedited removals and court appearances. Continued collaboration with global governments and increased repatriation flights underscore the ongoing efforts to manage migration effectively.
However, the clear lack of funding and varying adherence to policy highlights the operational hurdles in the current immigration framework. The continued modification of procedures indicates an evolving landscape in U.S. immigration policy.
