President Biden continues to tear down Trump’s policies bit by bit. Most recently, the Biden administration’s Customs and Border Patrol revived the highly controversial “catch and release policy.” Under the policy newly arrived illegal immigrants are released into U.S. cities. The move sparked outrage as the U.S. continues to battle the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic as the immigrants are never tested for the virus before being released to cities where they can possibly infect others. Many also believe the policy will trigger a mass influx of illegal migrants to our country.
Fox News reports:
CBP said three factors led to the decision to release illegal immigrant families: an increase of migrant traffic, specifically families from Central America and unaccompanied children; Mexico’s refusal to accept additional families with children under age 12 in areas where migrants camps grow increasingly large, overwhelming the shelter and services; and COVID-19, which has severely reduced Border Patrol detention and transport capacity.
Under court order, the Border Patrol is only permitted to hold migrants up to 72 hours. In some areas of Texas, where migrant apprehensions doubled in the last few months, sectors can no longer meet that mandate. Compounding the problem, in some areas, Mexico is refusing to accept more families under Title 42, the pandemic order imposed by Trump to deny entry to any immigrant, including asylum seekers.
Wolf and others said smugglers and Central American families will exploit the situation, funneling more migrants into weak areas, causing more releases.
The move has raised two concerns. Unlike those arriving at airports from abroad, illegal immigrants do not arrive with a negative COVID test and CBP does not test unless symptoms are obvious. So even though officials know nothing about the migrants’ travel or medical history, they’re being dropped off at the nearest bus station and could be spreading the virus.
Biden made the move through yet another one of his many executive orders. Since Biden was sworn in, the U.S. has already seen a spike in the number of illegal crossings from those leaving Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
