Illegal immigrant families exploit 'catch-and-release' loopholes, surge over border at record levels

The Washington Times ^ | Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | Stephen Dinan

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Numbers soar after collapse of Trump's zero tolerance policy

Illegal immigration across the southwest border surged last month as President Trump’s zero-tolerance effort crumbled, and smugglers and migrant families rushed to take advantage of renewed “catch-and-release” loopholes.

Border officials acknowledged a “crisis” as the number of families reached record levels, topping even the worst days of the Obama administration.

It’s so bad that caravans of families like the one that drew headlines this spring have become commonplace. Authorities reported groups of 65, 65, 66, 96 and 163 illegal immigrants caught in just the last two weeks — with children as young as four months being carried through the scorching deserts of northern Mexico and southern Arizona.

The caravans are a sign of how brazen migrants have become, said Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He said they know there’s little the administration can do, given court decisions hindering deportations, and lack of resources from Congress.

“These are a very direct response to the vulnerabilities in our legal framework,” he said.

He said the numbers were “expected,” given the administration’s widely publicized retreat from its zero-tolerance policy at the border, which came after immigrant-rights activists and members of Congress from both parties complained. Mr. McAleenan said that fight may even have perversely encouraged more people to come, after they became aware of the “loophole” of more lax treatment for illegal immigrant families.

[Gay State Conservative]

If I could run this country by fiat I’d order a “shoot on sight” policy....like North Korea and East Germany has/had for people trying to *leave*.

[MyKidsDad73]

"The caravans are a sign of how brazen migrants have become, said Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He said they know there’s little the administration can do, given court decisions hindering deportations, and lack of resources from Congress."

Maybe I'm just hungover... but exactly what power do the courts have over the President to stop him from deporting illegals? Especially given that the Constitution expressly gives him that power!

Can he not just tell the courts to KMA and deport them anyway?

[EinNYC]

So our personal safety, our economy, and a host of other things must be put at grave risk so that some dumb-as-a-bag-of-rocks dummocraps can feel good about themselves? Would these same imbeciles go to bed at night with their front doors wide open, never fearing being robbed, raped, or murdered in their sleep? I rather doubt it, but that's exactly what they are trying to force upon the rest of us. Cross the border illegally, shoot to kill. After the first few go down, I bet the numbers attempting it go WAY down. That would create a lot more respect for our borders than currently exists.

BUILD THE WALL and have it manned by the military. Protect us from an influx of diseased, illiterate, low IQ criminal invaders.

[atomic_dog]

Turn em back ....

No....

Yeah that's it, give them a beat down and turn em back.

[jmacusa]

I got into a vicious argument with some Latino dumbass here last week because I said I despise Mexicans, Hondurans and every other bunch of border jumping, welfare leeching cock roaches from south of the border. For God's sake, WTF is going on here? We're a sovereign nation , not Motel 6 for the whole freaking world. I'm sick of this bs.