At the end of July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 650 people during a four-day operation that targeted individuals who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border as unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and family units.
According to a recent report from TIME, only 193 of the 650 people detained in this second iteration of Operation Border Guardian/Border Resolve were the actual targets of the raids. The other 457 (about 70 percent) were “non-targets,” essentially meaning that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Basically, they were “low hanging fruit.”
According to an ICE spokesperson, certain categories of removable aliens were not considered amenable to arrest under the Obama administration, but now, ICE agents have been instructed to deport anyone who is in the country illegally. Some of the people who were detained in the recent raids just happened to be visiting family members when ICE agents were there, and many of them were eligible for DACA.
If you or a member of your family is facing deportation proceedings, or if you would like to change your immigration status, contact Kuck Immigration Partners. Charles Kuck is an immigration attorney in Atlanta who will evaluate your situation, answer your questions, and explain how he will help you achieve your immigration goals. Call 404-816-8611 today to schedule a consultation.
Deportations of Non-Criminal Undocumented Immigrants Have Increased 2%
According to deportation statistics from ICE, deportations of non-criminal undocumented immigrants have increased from 42 percent in 2016 to 44 percent so far in fiscal year 2017. However, according to a report from Politico, the overall deportation rate has dropped slightly. This is more a function of how many people are deported from the border, than the interior enforcement, which has clearly increased dramatically.
More than 240,000 people were removed by ICE in fiscal year 2016, but in fiscal year 2012, more than 409,000 people were removed. However, the report pointed out that the drop in deportations does not necessarily mean that immigration enforcement is easing up; on the contrary, removal orders and arrest rates have increased significantly under the Trump administration. One primary cause of the lower removal rate is that the courts are backlogged with more than 600,000 cases.
ICE Agents Have Discretion When Choosing Whether to Detain a Non-Target
Although ICE agents have been instructed to detain anyone who is in the country illegally, they do have discretion when choosing whether or not to detain a non-target. For instance, if there are children present during an ICE raid, or in certain other situations, agents might decide not to take non-targets, like single mothers, into custody.
If you or a loved one is facing deportation proceedings or if you are worried that the recent immigration crackdown will affect your family, contact Kuck Immigration Partners. Charles Kuck is an immigration lawyer in Atlanta who understands what is at stake, and he and his dedicated staff immigration attorneys will compassionately represent your interests. Call 404-816-8611 today to schedule a consultation.
