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Trump Admin Reaches Agreement with Mexico for 'Historic Action' on Illegal Immigration

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Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen announced on Thursday that the United States and Mexico have reached an agreement, requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their claims are considered.

In a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security Nielsen said the new policy replaces “catch and release” with “catch and return.”

“Today we are announcing historic measures to bring the illegal immigration crisis under control. We will confront this crisis head on, uphold the rule of law, and strengthen our humanitarian commitments,” she stated.

Nielsen explained: “Aliens trying to game the system to get into our country illegally will no longer be able to disappear into the United States, where many skip their court dates. Instead, they will wait for an immigration court decision while they are in Mexico.”

The secretary said that the new policy will reduce illegal immigration by removing a key incentive of easy entry into the U.S. through taking advantage of laws governing asylum.

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The DHS news release offered as evidence that the asylum system is being gamed that over the last five years seen a 2000 percent increase in aliens claiming “credible fear,” which is the first step in securing legal immigration status as an asylum seeker.

“As a result, the United States has an overwhelming asylum backlog of more than 786,000 pending cases. Last year alone the number of asylum claims soared 67 percent compared to the previous year,” according to the DHS.

“Most of these claims are not meritorious—in fact nine out of ten asylum claims are not granted by a federal immigration judge. However, by the time a judge has ordered them removed from the United States, many have vanished.”

Nielsen testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday about the policy change of having asylum seekers wait in Mexico, while their claim is considered.

Do you agree with this new asylum policy? 

“All too frequently, if (migrants) say the magic words they get a free pass into America,” she said.

Under the new procedures, if migrants seeking entry into the U.S. are “granted asylum by a U.S. judge, they will be welcomed into America. If they are not, they will be removed to their own countries.”

“Let me be clear: We will undertake these steps consistent with our domestic and international obligations, including our humanitarian commitments,” Nielsen said.

“We have notified the Mexican government of our intended actions and in response, Mexico has informed us that they will commit to implementing essential measures on their side of the border to facilitate this process by providing humanitarian assistance.”

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Democrat Rep. Luis Gutiérrez of Illinois tore into Nielsen at Thursday’s hearing, claiming she and the Trump administration would have barred Jesus, Mary and Joseph from entering the U.S. as refugees.

According to the biblical account, the three sought asylum in Egypt after King Herod issued a decree calling for all boys two years of age or younger in-and-around Bethlehem to be killed.

“Shame on us for wearing our badge of Christianity during Christmas, and allowing the secretary to come here and lie,” Gutiérrez said.

GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas later offered to Nielsen, “It grieves me for anyone who’s part of this committee to slander you and be remorseless when they make slanderous comments about you or mean-spirited remarks about people in the administration who simply want to enforce the law.”

The lawmaker asked if Jesus, Mary, and Joseph would have been allowed entry into the U.S. under current asylum laws as they fled from King Herod, and she replied they would have.

Gohmert responded, “Yeah, so (Gutierrez) can scratch that from his list of concerns. They’d get into the United States.”

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 2,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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