Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday directed federal prosecutors along the U.S.-Mexico border to adopt a “zero-tolerance policy” on illegal entry cases.
The announcement came after the Department of Homeland Security announced this week there was a 37 percent increase in border apprehensions from February 2018 to March 2018.
The memo directed all U.S. Attorneys along the southwest border — comprised of the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, Western District of Texas, and the Southern District of Texas — to prosecute all illegal border crossings “to the extent practicable.”
Sessions also directed prosecutors to work with DHS to develop guidelines for prosecuting immigration law offenses.
This week, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced President Trump was signing an order to deploy the National Guard to the border.
“To those who wish to challenge the Trump administration’s commitment to public safety, national security, and the rule of law, I warn you: illegally entering this country will not be rewarded, but will instead be met with the full prosecutorial powers of the Department of Justice,” Sessions said in a statement. He called the “situation” at the southwest border “unacceptable.”
Data also showed a 203 percent increase in border apprehensions from March 2017 to March 2018.
