The Lost Migrants... Biden Admin Unable To Locate 50,000 Migrants Released Into US in 2021
- Editorial Staff
- Jan 14, 2022
- 3 min read
Immigrants cross the Rio Grande in September / Reuters
Editorial Staff - January 14, 2022
The southern border crisis is once again in the news. It was recently reported that nearly half of all migrants that the Border Patrol released into the United States in 2021 cannot be located, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security. They have simply vanished within our borders.
With more than 100,000 migrants released into the United States from the southern border between March 21 and Aug. 31, 2021, and given the notice to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement within 60 days, according to the data. Nearly half of those—47,705—did not check-in, making their status and location unknown to immigration authorities. What did the administration expect them to do, act honorably, and actually show up?
This data was released after Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) in August pressed the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for an accounting of all migrants released into the United States. Mayorkas responded to the letter on Jan. 11, nearly three months after Johnson’s initial request. The wheels of government move slowly I guess.
Following a March 2021 policy directive from President Biden, migrants were given "Notices to Report" to an immigration office rather than "Notices to Appear" at an immigration court. Proponents of the change in policy say it was necessary due to the 1.5 million backlogged cases at the nation's immigration courts. That problem of course would not have existed if not for Biden opening the floodgates on the southern border in the first place. But critics say report notices made it easier for migrants to dodge Homeland Security.
The problem with the difference between a "Notice to Report" and "Notice to Appear" is crucial, with the latter holding "real legal effect," according to Center for Immigration Studies immigration expert Andrew Arthur. You see should a migrant miss an order to appear in court, an immigration judge could order that person's immediate removal whereby making them much more likely to appear. The "Notices to Report," however, effectively operate on an honor system, with little recourse for the federal government to punish the offender. After all it is often said that "There is no honor among thieves."
According to the data provided by the Department of Homeland Security, just 15.6 percent of the over 100,000 migrants released into the country were issued removal proceedings.
The migrant numbers released contradict statements by Mayorkas in September when he appeared in front of the Senate. During an exchange with Sen. James Lankford (R., Okla.), Mayorkas said that a vast majority of migrants given "Notices to Report" had checked in with immigration officials following their apprehension. An obvious lie.
"Approximately 75 percent have indeed reported within the time frame or within their reporting time frame," he said. "And as to those who have failed to report, that would qualify as an enforcement priority of ours."
The Department of Homeland Security earlier this month released a report that details the number of foreigners who overstayed their visas in 2020. That report found that 2020 saw the highest number of suspected visa overstays on record, with 584,886 foreign nationals living in the United States longer than federal law allows. But that's okay if you are sitting in the Oval Office with no real plan in effect to deal with the illegal immigration problem.
The Washington Free Beacon revealed earlier this month that the Biden administration has yet to release a report that outlines the number of illegal immigrants removed from the United States in 2021. And don't hold your breath waiting for them to do so.
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