The Justice Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection both rejected a press report that said Border Patrol officers have been instructed not to refer for prosecution adults who illegally enter the U.S. between ports of entry as part of a family unit.
“The Washington Post never reached out to the department. Their story is not accurate. There has been no change to the department’s zero tolerance policy to prosecute adults who cross our border illegally instead of claiming asylum at any port of entry at the border,” Sarah Isgur Flores, a Justice spokeswoman, confirmed to the Washington Examiner Thursday afternoon before tweeting the statement.
[Also read: 301 migrants who arrived at border over past seven months not family units: DHS]
The Washington Post never reached out to the Department. Their story is not accurate. There has been no change to the Department’s zero tolerance policy to prosecute adults who cross our border illegally instead of claiming asylum at any port of entry at the border.
— Sarah Isgur Flores (@SarahFloresDOJ) June 21, 2018
A CBP spokesperson issued a statement that had been posted online hours earlier, saying its personnel would continue to refer adults from family units for prosecution.
“The Border Patrol will continue to refer for prosecution adults who cross the border illegally,” CBP said in a statement.
A Washington Post report published Thursday cited one administration official who said, “We’re suspending prosecutions of adults who are members of family units until ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] can accelerate resource capability to allow us to maintain custody.”
The unnamed administration official said parents who arrive and are in verified relationships with accompanying minors will not be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution, and will remain with their young ones in ICE facilities for up to 20 days while their asylum cases are considered.
That would be a reversal of the policy Trump announced Wednesday, when he said he would continue to prosecute adults in family units that enter the U.S. illegally, but let those families stay together as they navigate the legal process.
Kelly Cohen contributed
