GovernmentExecutive.com

The Border Patrol plans to expand a program that more quickly removes migrants from the United States who are caught illegally trying to cross the border, according to the agency's chief.

Chief David Aguilar told Government Executive he hopes to begin using expedited removal at more Border Patrol stations within the coming weeks. He said he is waiting on final approval to expand the program from the Homeland Security Department.

"I feel confident that we're going to move forward," he said. "You'll be hearing something very quickly."

The Border Patrol launched expedited removal nine months ago at its sectors in Tucson, Ariz., and Laredo, Texas. The process allows migrants who are caught illegally entering the country, and who do not have criminal records and do not pose a threat to national security, to be more quickly processed and returned to their home countries. The process reduces the time they are held in U.S. detention centers from more than 80 days to an average of 26 days.

The program also limits the number of non-Mexicans who are released into the U.S. population. Currently, non-Mexican migrants are sent to centers operated by DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau. From there, most are given a notice to appear in court and released into the U.S. population. Most never make their court appearances.

The Border Patrol predicts it will catch about 150,000 non-Mexicans by the end of this fiscal year. That's about 12 percent of all apprehensions, and represents a 200 percent increase over 2004. Last year, the majority of non-Mexicans came from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

Aguilar said the holdup in expanding the expedited removal program has been ensuring ICE has enough detention space. While the program ultimately removes illegal immigrants from the country, they first have to be held in detention centers.

"Part of it is that, once a Border Patrol agent places an alien into ER, there's a need for mandatory detention," Aguilar said. "We need to ensure that, as we evolve, mandatory detention capability is synchronized with our roll-out. Those are things we're working on right now."

He added: "It's not a matter of just expanding ER. It's all the logistics attached to it to ensure that the program is managed correctly."

COMMENTS

• This is fine and dandy, but one problem. CBP Director Robert Bonner has prohibited Border Patrol Agents in the interior of the US from even going out and arresting Illegal Aliens or conducting pro active enforcement operations. Ask any BP Agent in the Miami area. Supposedly Bonner feels that interior enforcement belongs to ICE only; so why have Border Patrol Agents in Florida and other spots other than the southern or northern border, Mr Bonner ? The whole jist of this article is a joke, proposed window dressing with no teeth behind the proposed law. GovExec.com reader Posted July 12, 2005 10:22 AM
• Great idea! But why not expand this program nationwide, as soon as possible? Any illegal alien who is arrested should be placed on the next plane, train, boat or bus leaving for their country, without the charade of a notice to appear before an immigration judge. They aren't here legally, so they should have no right to challenge their apprehension and deportation, period! If they want to come here, then let them do so legally, as millions have done since this nation was founded. GovExec.com reader Posted July 8, 2005 7:32 PM
• Futility...Here's the scenario. A man/woman is applying graffiti to a wall on a downtown street. Next to him, another person is painting over the graffiti. That's the Border Patrol today. I respect the brave men and women who serve as BP agents, but the concept is flawed, expensive, and meaningless. If illegal infiltrators are just tagged, bagged, and released, why bother? Our problems in this area come about because of lies perpetrated by the secular leftists (so-called Democrats)and our general naive view of the world. We either grow up collectively, or accept our fate, and take the screens off the border and let everyone in. Then, at least the pro-infiltrators can't whine, and we will become a Third World nation within fifty years or so. Maybe we can apply to the vaunted World Band for loans, then demand to have them forgiven, as so many other loser nations have done! GovExec.com reader Posted July 10, 2005 2:05 AM