DHS Publishes Memos on President's Executive Orders
On February 21, 2017, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued implementation memos on President Trump’s two executive orders concerning border security and interior enforcement. The executive orders were signed by the President in January 2017.
Some points outlined in the DHS memos:
All criminal aliens are the priority for deportation. This includes aliens who have been committed any criminal offence; have engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation related to any official matter before a governmental agency; and who are involved in gang activities or drug trafficking etc.;
10,000 agents and officers will be hired by the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) will hire 5,000 Border Patrol agents, and 500 Air and Marine Officers;
Unaccompanied alien minors i.e. children under 18 with no lawful status in the U.S., should be transferred to the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the Department of Health and Human Services. Such children will be entitled to special protection, such as placement in a care facility, access to social services and removal proceeding before an immigration judge (under section 240 of the INA);
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, still remains in affect. January executive order does not offer any changes to the program.
To learn more about the new executive orders, please follow this link.
