Ice Confirms An Increase In Deportations
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office released the final number of deportations in fiscal year 2019 and confirmed an increase of 11,173 expelled from the previous period.
The agency affirms that the increase was due to the crisis at the border, which began at the beginning of that fiscal year with the migrant caravans and began to decrease after agreements with Mexico last June.
The agency that Matthew Albence runs on an interim basis expelled 267,258 people, an increase from 256,085 removals during fiscal year 2018. This represents the deportation of at least 732 people a day.
“While ICE general deportations increased slightly from fiscal year 2018 to fiscal year 2019, the share of removals resulting from CBP arrests increased significantly during this period, as a direct result of the border crisis,” the agency justified.
He added that 85 percent of the foreigners sent to their country of origin spent time in detention centers, arguing that the agency should focus more on the deportation of people it already has in custody.
The agency integrates into its figures the apprehensions of the Border Patrol and ICE officials, as well as the ERO division, a specialized group to carry out final expulsion orders.
He added that more than 5,700 foreigners identified as members of the family unit were deported, which represents an increase of 110% in this area compared to fiscal year 2018.
Albence accused the sanctuary cities of their lack of cooperation, but warned that they will continue their efforts to arrest illegal immigrants.
“No matter where you live in the US, your security is affected by criminal aliens who came to this country illegally and now live in their neighborhoods,” Albence said. “ICE remains committed to removing dangerous criminals and repeat offenders from our communities and restoring the integrity of the nation’s immigration system.”
Reports indicate that more than 86% of those arrested during raids and deported had criminal convictions or criminal charges pending at the time of arrest.
“This demonstrates ICE’s continued efforts to prioritize public safety in the interior despite resource limitations,” the agency stated in its report.
The population in immigration prisons rose to 50,165 in fiscal year 2019, a 19% increase compared to fiscal year 2018, the agency said, adding that at some point it had 56,000 people in custody.
