On Friday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered a zero-tolerance policy be enacted toward immigrants unlawfully entering the Southwest border between the U.S. and Mexico.
The Hill reports:
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Sessions notified all federal prosecutors along that part of the border of the new policy in a memo Friday and directed them to make prosecuting criminal immigration offenses a priority.
He also directed prosecutors to work with the Department of Homeland Security to develop guidelines for prosecuting offenses under immigration law.
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The Department of Justice said the new policy is in response to a report from the Department of Homeland Security that showed a 203 percent increase in illegal border crossings from March 2017 to March 2018 and a 37 percent increase from February 2018 to March 2018 — the largest month-to-month increase since 2011.
“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 wrote.
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“The situation at our Southwest Border is unacceptable,” Sessions said in the statement. “Congress has failed to pass effective legislation that serves the national interest — that closes dangerous loopholes and fully funds a wall along our southern border,” Sessions added.
Axios reporter Jonathan Swan says Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies, believes the move is significant.
“. @MarkSKrikorian, an immigration hawk of hawks, tells me Jeff Sessions’ order today to US Attorneys is significant. Changes calculus for illegal immigrants trying to re-enter after being deported & having criminal record. Second time would be a felony,” Swan tweeted.
https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan/status/982347499359932419
Why is it not a felony the 1st time???
— yvonneburton ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@_YvonneBurton) April 6, 2018
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Because 8 USC 1325(a) says so.
— Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian) April 6, 2018
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