Numbers contradict testimony by DHS chief Alejandro Mayorkas
Nearly half of all migrants that Border Patrol released into the United States in 2021 cannot be located, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security.
More than 100,000 migrants were released into the United States from the southern border between March 21 and Aug. 31, 2021, and given a 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.
The release of the data comes after Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) in August pressed 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 request.
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. But critics say report notices made it easier for migrants to dodge Homeland Security.
The distinction 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. Should a migrant miss an order to appear in court, an immigration judge could order that person's immediate removal. "Notices to Report," however, effectively operate on an honor system, with little recourse for the federal government to punish the offender.
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...
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