President Joe Biden appears to have finally been backed into a corner over the issue of the porous southwest border.
According to Wednesday reports, the president has issued a new directive stating that any migrants from Venezuela caught illegally crossing into the U.S. would immediately be sent back to Mexico, mirroring a policy implemented by former President Donald Trump.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin broke the news: “DHS announces that effective immediately, all Venezuelans caught crossing into the U.S. illegally between ports of entry will be returned to MX as part of a new joint action with Mexico. Previously, almost all Venezuelan nationals were released into U.S. Big change.”
BREAKING: DHS announces that effective immediately, all Venezuelans caught crossing into the U.S. illegally between ports of entry will be returned to MX as part of a new joint action with Mexico. Previously, almost all Venezuelan nationals were released into U.S.
Big change.— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 12, 2022
“At the same time, DHS says it will create a new process to “lawfully and safely” bring up to 24,000 qualifying Venezuelans into the U.S. Here are the qualifications and disqualifications,” Melugin added in another tweet.
At the same time, DHS says it will create a new process to “lawfully and safely” bring up to 24,000 qualifying Venezuelans into the U.S. Here are the qualifications and disqualifications. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/m5T4zknt94
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 12, 2022
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas added: “These actions make clear that there is a lawful and orderly way for Venezuelans to enter the United States, and lawful entry is the only way.
“Those who attempt to cross the southern border of the United States illegally will be returned to Mexico and will be ineligible for this process in the future. Those who follow the lawful process will have the opportunity to travel safely to the United States and become eligible to work here,” he said.
DHS also issued a statement, which partially noted:
Effective immediately, Venezuelans who enter the United States between ports of entry, without authorization, will be returned to Mexico. At the same time, the United States and Mexico are reinforcing their coordinated enforcement operations to target human smuggling organizations and bring them to justice.
That campaign will include new migration checkpoints, additional resources and personnel, joint targeting of human smuggling organizations, and expanded information sharing related to transit nodes, hotels, stash houses, and staging locations. The United States is also planning to offer additional security assistance to support regional partners to address the migration challenges in the Darién Gap.
The change in Biden border policy comes as GOP Govs. Doug Ducey of Arizona, Greg Abbott of Texas, and Ron DeSantis of Florida have been flying and busing tens of thousands of migrants to blue cities — Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, and liberal Martha’s Vineyard.
Melugin added in another tweet:
“Thoughts on this: Venezuelans have been crossing illegally in enormous numbers. DHS is trying to slow that down w/ threat of immediate removal. Typically, we see massive groups of Venezuelans turning themselves in because they expect release. Now, we may see them try to evade.”
Thoughts on this: Venezuelans have been crossing illegally in enormous numbers. DHS is trying to slow that down w/ threat of immediate removal.
Typically, we see massive groups of Venezuelans turning themselves in because they expect release. Now, we may see them try to evade.— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) October 12, 2022