A plan reportedly being considered by the Biden administration to keep asylum seekers in Texas while their cases are pending has been shot down by the head of the Border Patrol Union, who spoke to Fox News Digital on Saturday and said the move would do nothing to secure the border or assist agents.
“It’s not going to help border security in any way because it means catch-and-releases will continue,” Brandon Judd, Head of the National Border Patrol Council, told Fox News Digital.
According to Judd, the Biden administration only considers the change because of pressure from left-leaning mayors.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is exploring a strategy to use GPS monitoring devices, such as ankle bracelets, to keep illegal migrant families in Texas.
The Times reported that the government would conduct an asylum hearing to determine the fate of these families. If not, they are so close to the border that they could be deported immediately. The initiative would broaden the Family Expedited Removal initiative, which currently imposes curfews on and keeps tabs on families who have relocated to major cities.
A DHS official responded to the report by saying the administration is dedicated to creating safer pathways for migrants to enter the country lawfully and punishing those who try to enter illegally.
“Since May 2023, DHS has removed or returned over 200,000 individuals, including over 17,000 individual family unit members,” the spokesman said. “DHS continuously holds policy and operational discussions on how to leverage our authorities to ensure a fair, humane, and effective immigration process that efficiently removes those without a lawful basis to stay in the country.”
The administration has been under fire from Democratic mayors and state officials in places like New York and California, so the alleged proposal seems timely. One of the most prominent critics is New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who claims the influx of 110,000 migrants will destroy his city.
Leaders in these areas have complained that the influx of migrants from Texas via bus has worsened the situation, and this plan will theoretically prevent that. However, Judd stated, “Such a move would not alleviate the problem,” and was dismissive of the enforcement that would be used.
“Ankle bracelets have never been effective. They will not be effective because we don’t have the personnel to go after somebody the moment they cut the ankle bracelet. It’s just another waste of taxpayer dollars,” Judd said.
He also said it would not help agents because it would not reduce the number of migrants released into the United States.
“They’re still going to be subject to release. They will be released in Texas with strict instructions to remain there. After breaking the law once, offenders have already proven that they have no intention of ever obeying it again. As a result, why should anyone expect them to remain in Texas?”
According to Judd, the policy shift was made for political reasons rather than improving border security.
“The only reason they’re doing this is to appease Eric Adams and the mayor of Los Angeles. This is just more rhetoric,” he said.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has threatened legal action and further busloads of migrants if the proposal moves forward.