Halfway through the latest Homeland Security memo on immigration enforcement is a provision that allows federal agents to deport anyone caught entering the country illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border back to Mexico—even if the person was born in a different country.
The new directive in the memo means that if officials detain, say, a Chinese migrant entering the U.S illegally through the U.S-Mexico border, immigration officials can now deport that individual back to Mexico.
The same applies for any migrant caught crossing the border through Canada. According to the memo, the provision applies to immigrants who “do not pose a risk of a subsequent illegal entry or attempted illegal entry.”
The provision was first reported by McClatchyand later confirmed by ProPublica.
“Returning them to the foreign contiguous territory from which they arrived, pending the outcome of removal proceedings saves the Department’s detention and adjudication resources for other priority aliens,” states the provision in the memo signed by the Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.
The provision may also be applied to some minors placed in deportation proceedings.(read report)
