Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted multiple immigrant removal flights to Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala and Honduras Wednesday, May 10. In total, thousands of immigrants were either deported or sent back voluntarily.
“Do not listen to the lies of smugglers; individuals who do not have lawful basis to remain will be removed,” Enforcement and Removal Operations Executive Associate Director Corey A. Price said in a statement. “ICE continues to enforce U.S. immigration laws, working collaboratively with other DHS agencies and in accordance with Title 8 authorities to facilitate the safe, orderly and humane processing of migrants.”
The immigrants were given their day in immigration court and ordered to be removed by a judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review.
ICE conducted 72,177 removals to more than 150 countries in fiscal year 2022.
Thursday, May 11, ICE announced a new process for families arrested at the border who are placed in expedited removal but express a fear of persecution or torture. Now, certain heads of household will be able to wear an ankle monitor for continuous monitoring and be subject to a curfew while they wait for their interview and review by an immigration judge.
“Families should not listen to the lies of smugglers. Like single adults, noncitizens traveling with their children who do not have a lawful basis to remain in the United States will be quickly removed and barred from reentry for at least five years,” Price said in a statement.
Immigrants who are eligible for the new ankle monitoring must be processed for expedited removal and live in a country where ICE maintains regular removal flights.
If it’s determined a family does not have a credible fear, they are usually removed within 30 days, according to ICE.