Jeff Sessions just ordered a “zero-tolerance policy” to be adopted in reference to illegal aliens entering into the country.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday directed federal prosecutors along the U.S.-Mexico border to adopt a “zero-tolerance policy” on illegal entry cases.
The announcement came after the Department of Homeland Security announced this week there was a 37 percent increase in border apprehensions from February 2018 to March 2018.
The memo directed all U.S. Attorneys along the southwest border — comprised of the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, Western District of Texas, and the Southern District of Texas — to prosecute all illegal border crossings “to the extent practicable.”
Immigration enforcement hawk Mark Krikorian loves the move:
Attorney General Announces Zero-Tolerance Policy for Criminal Illegal Entry https://t.co/zYYIednBxW A resumption of Operation Streamline—prosecute *every* border infiltrator, then deport. If they return, it's a felony.
— Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian) April 6, 2018
Here’s more about that:
. @MarkSKrikorian, an immigration hawk of hawks, tells me Jeff Sessions’ order today to US Attorneys is significant. Changes calculus for illegal immigrants trying to re-enter after being deported & having criminal record. Second time would be a felony.
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) April 6, 2018
Here’s part of the statement from the DOJ:
Attorney General Jeff Sessions today notified all U.S. Attorney’s Offices along the Southwest Border of a new “zero-tolerance policy” for offenses under 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a), which prohibits both attempted illegal entry and illegal entry into the United States by an alien. The implementation of the Attorney General’s zero-tolerance policy comes as the Department of Homeland Security reported a 203 percent increase in illegal border crossings from March 2017 to March 2018, and a 37 percent increase from February 2018 to March 2018—the largest month-to-month increase since 2011.
“The situation at our Southwest Border is unacceptable. Congress has failed to pass effective legislation that serves the national interest—that closes dangerous loopholes and fully funds a wall along our southern border. As a result, a crisis has erupted at our Southwest Border that necessitates an escalated effort to prosecute those who choose to illegally cross our border,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “To those who wish to challenge the Trump Administration’s commitment to public safety, national security, and the rule of law, I warn you: illegally entering this country will not be rewarded, but will instead be met with the full prosecutorial powers of the Department of Justice. To the Department’s prosecutors, I urge you: promoting and enforcing the rule of law is vital to protecting a nation, its borders, and its citizens. You play a critical part in fulfilling these goals, and I thank you for your continued efforts in seeing to it that our laws—and as a result, our nation—are respected.”
I’ve often said that if we merely enforced the laws already on the books, we could curtail illegal immigration significantly, without an insanely expensive physical wall. Looks like they’re doing just that…