As the immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border continues to fester, the Biden administration is looking to do some damage control months before the presidential election.
A “Recent Arrivals (RA) Docket process” was announced by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland this month in order to “expeditiously resolve” asylum cases.
NEW: @SecMayorkas & Attorney General Garland announced a “Recent Arrivals Docket” process for certain noncitizen single adults to issue decisions more expeditiously in immigration court cases. https://t.co/8pEFdYulH2 pic.twitter.com/ke05l8OmZi
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 16, 2024
“The administration said in a statement that it will allow it to more swiftly deport those without valid asylum claims, or to grant relief and protection to those who do. Currently, the wait time for asylum cases can be up to seven years, due to the enormous backlog for the immigration courts. That backlog has skyrocketed in recent years,” Fox News reported Tuesday.
Cases will reportedly be prioritized and processed within a six-month window, barring special circumstances. Cases involving single adults who are in the country illegally will be pushed through on the RA Docket which will operate in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
“This effort will allow DHS and DOJ to more swiftly impose consequences, including removal, on those without a legal basis to remain in the United States and to more swiftly grant immigration relief or protections to noncitizens with valid claims,” a Homeland Security press release noted.
“The Justice Department also submitted to the Federal Register a final rule to promote efficient case and docket management in immigration proceedings,” the release read.
Mayorkas commented on the latest move to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border wrought by President Joe Biden’s own policies. But he still found a way to blame the “broken” system on Congress.
“Today, we are instituting with the Department of Justice a process to accelerate asylum proceedings so that individuals who do not qualify for relief can be removed more quickly and those who do qualify can achieve protection sooner,” Mayorkas said in a statement.
“This administrative step is no substitute for the sweeping and much-needed changes that the bipartisan Senate bill would deliver, but in the absence of Congressional action we will do what we can to most effectively enforce the law and discourage irregular migration,” he added.
Today, we are instituting with the Department of Justice a process to accelerate asylum proceedings so that individuals who do not qualify for relief can be removed more quickly and those who do qualify can achieve protection sooner. https://t.co/DGLF4FuPv0 pic.twitter.com/OzKwU83BrT
— Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (@SecMayorkas) May 16, 2024
“The Justice Department’s immigration courts are committed to the just and efficient enforcement of the immigration laws,” said AG Garland. “These measures will advance that mission by helping to ensure that immigration cases are adjudicated promptly and fairly.”
“In order to support these efforts, today the Justice Department also submitted to the Federal Register a final rule titled Efficient Case and Docket Management in Immigration Proceedings. The rule codifies procedures and standards for immigration adjudicators across the country to manage their dockets and resolve cases efficiently,” the DHS press release noted.
Democrat mayors in some of the so-called sanctuary cities have been calling for the federal government to do more.
“We are at an untenable situation right now, and it is painful for us. It’s painful for the city,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said back in December. “And I think that you see it being reflected in the polls. It is because our federal government’s actions have taken a toll on the people of this city.”
Last month, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said, “We need the president to extend the same economic opportunities long term for our undocumented brothers and sisters, so they can build a better life here in the city of Chicago or wherever else they decide to live.”
The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security urged Congress to pass the Senate’s bipartisan border security bill.
“Congress should take up and pass this legislation to fix our broken immigration system,” they said.
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Author: Frieda Powers
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