White House press secretary Jen Psaki was confronted by reporters on Monday over reports pending guidance that would spare some illegal immigrants convicted of less serious deportation offenses as Biden’s government lays the groundwork for its immigration strategy.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expected to issue new guidelines stipulating that undocumented immigrants convicted of driving under the influence, invitations, simple assault and drug-based crimes may no longer be deported, as reported by The Washington Post.
Psaki noted that prioritization of those subject to deportation is ultimately the Department of Homeland Security, which will determine who poses the greatest threat to national security.
“The priority for the application of immigration laws will be on those who pose a threat to national security … and on recent arrivals,” Psaki said during a press conference. “No one is saying that DUIs or assault are acceptable behavior, and those arrested for such activities should be tried by local law enforcement, as appropriate. But we are talking about prioritizing who will be deported from the country.”
COMMANDMENT PREPARED RULES FOR RESTRICTING ICE ARRESTMENTS, DEPARTMENTS
The guidelines are said to be an attempt to focus more resources on national security issues, suspects in sex crimes and gang members, among others high-risk individuals. This is not final.
“They abolished ICE without abolishing ICE,” an official who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Washington Post. “The pendulum swing is so extreme. It literally feels like we’ve gone from being able to fully enforce our immigration laws until now it’s being told not to enforce anything.”
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As previously reported by Fox News, early in his presidency, Biden sought to impose a moratorium on 100-day evictions – which was blocked by a federal judge in Texas.
Meanwhile, some progressive Democrats have called for the abolition of ICE altogether.