President Trump signed a memorandum on Friday seeking to take steps toward ending the “catch and release” immigration policy, a term that generally refers to the release of illegal immigrants as they wait for an immigration hearing.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to take important steps to end ‘catch and release,’ the dangerous practice whereby aliens who have violated our Nation’s immigration laws are released into the United States shortly after their apprehension,” the Office of White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. “The safety and security of the American people is the President’s highest priority, and he will keep his promise to protect our country and to ensure that our laws are respected.”
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“At the same time, the President continues to call on congressional Democrats to cease their staunch opposition to border security and to stop blocking measures that are vital to the safety and security of the United States,” the statement continued.
The memorandum comes days after Trump condemned “catch and release” policies.
“Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release,” Trump tweeted earlier this month. “Getting more dangerous. ‘Caravans’ coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!”
Children and asylum-seekers are primarily the only immigrants who qualify for this type of release, although they are other cases where the practice may apply.
Although Trump has blamed Democrats for the practice, “catch and release” first started during President George W. Bush’s administration after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not have the capacity to hold all undocumented immigrants in custody.
Trump’s memo issued Friday demands a “detailed list of all existing facilities, including military facilities, that could be used, modified, or repurposed to detain aliens for violations of immigration law at or near the borders of the United States.”
Homeland Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar are ordered to submit a report within 45 days to Trump “detailing all measures that their respective departments have pursued or are pursuing to expeditiously end ‘catch and release’ practices.”
An update with additional resources must be provided within 75 days.
Additionally, the State Department and Homeland Security must submit a report to Trump detailing all measures “being pursued against countries that refuse to expeditiously accept the repatriation of their nationals” within 60 days.
Trump has ramped up efforts this week to secure the U.S. border with Mexico.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced that 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops would be sent to the southern Border an attempt to heighten border security.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Thursday that “we’ll probably keep them or a large portion” of the National Guard troops at the border until the erection of a border wall.
Trump has long advocated for the construction a wall along the southern border and has turned up the heat on lawmakers to find funding for the project.
The omnibus bill he signed last month included $1.6 billion in funding for the wall, although Trump had originally wanted $25 billion designated for the project.
