Arizona Sheriffs: “Immigration Crisis Has Reached A Critical Juncture”

Video shows illegal aliens scaling wall to enter the U.S.

On Friday, the Arizona Sheriff’s Association issued a statement of concern about reports that ICE is expected to “catch and release” illegal aliens that are currently pouring into the U.S. The statement by the Association’s President, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, follows a wave of large groups of Central American nationals surrendering to Border Patrol Agents in Arizona.

“There is no doubt that due to lack of action from our congressional leadership, the word will travel to foreign countries regarding our nation’s current situation. This will only result in an escalation of family units taking advantage of this crisis,” wrote Dannels. “The failure of the current strategy will only cause a larger burden and impact on all of our local communities. Communities do not have the financial resources nor the infrastructure to handle this additional burden which will ultimately lead to other ancillary issues. Among these issues are potential increases in crime, victimization of undocumented immigrants, exploitation of juvenile children, and human rights concerns.”

In fact, a video of one group totaling 108 people was captured on Thursday.

According to Border Patrol, at approximately 3:30 a.m., camera operators observed a huge number of illegal aliens being dropped over the border wall east of the San Luis Port of Entry. That group, totaling 108, was part of a coordinated smuggling effort where the subjects were dropped off the legacy landing mat border wall in four places simultaneously. The smuggling facilitators never crossed with the groups and returned to Mexico.

Arizona Sheriff’s Association:

It is apparent to anyone who looks that the immigration crisis has reached a critical juncture. Border Sheriffs were recently informed that due to a lack of available space and resources, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has no alternative other than to release en masse hundreds of detainees. We were also informed of the fact that our federal partners can’t hold family units because of the Flores Settlement Agreement resulting from one judge’s interpretation of the agreement which imposed the same requirements for Unaccompanied Alien Children to Accompanied Children. Simply put, this is judicially ordered “catch and release”, and the government has no choice but to comply. Undoubtedly, many of these persons will be released onto the streets of our communities. Understandably, this is a move that Sheriffs adamantly oppose—both from a community safety and a humanitarian standpoint.

The United States Border Patrol (USBP), ICE, and the Federal Courts do not have the capacity to handle the influx of family units that are pouring over the border. Last year, in excess of 80,000 family units were apprehended. This year to date, there have been in excess of 140,000 family units apprehended at the border, and this number seems to increase daily. Additionally, over 100,000 unaccompanied minors have also been apprehended. This further compounds the crisis we face. It is time we realize that the current procedures/policies are in need of immediate revision. Detaining these family units pending an immigration hearing in Federal Court is not feasible. Doing so is only adding to the problem since the courts are incapable of handling the workload. All evidence indicates that the entire system is past the breaking point.

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Sheriffs have been told that at the current rate of incursion, an immigration hearing in Federal Court may take six or seven years to schedule. It is no secret that the vast majority of those who are released with a promise to appear will never do so. Some of those who are released are often equipped with an ‘ankle bracelet’ so their location can be tracked. However, how will 35,000 available ankle bracelets even begin to address the overwhelming number of those who are apprehended and then released? Clearly, the answer is, it does not.

The USBP is currently using up to 40% of their available staff to monitor family units. In one case, agents are left to provide 24/7 care to a five month old infant and a 1 year old child while the mother is hospitalized for a serious injury sustained while climbing the border fence. The Yuma Sector Border Patrol alone is currently housing on average 700 detainees. Importantly, they are apprehending approximately 150 more daily. Current estimates are that nationally there are in excess of 45,000 currently in custody. The total available housing for detainees has been exceeded exponentially. At what point do we admit what we are doing is not feasible and change the course of action? We contend that it is already overdue to do so.

Now, due to the failure of Congress to act, each of our communities are going to be faced with this crisis. Our communities will be left without support to deal with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of undocumented immigrants who will soon be turned out onto the streets. Moreover, this condition will potentially affect communities throughout the United States. The NGO support system, which has been relied upon for years to deal with this crisis, is beyond its capacity. The transportation system, which has been relied upon to move these undocumented immigrants into unsuspecting communities in the nation’s interior, is incapable of handling the numbers with which they are currently faced. These issues are not new and Congress has been repeatedly warned of the impending crisis. Congress can fix this and the loopholes in the TVPRA which have been brought to their attention for years; yet, has chosen not to do so and has done nothing.2

Your nation’s Sheriffs hope that those who have been duly elected by the people of this great nation will find the courage to act on behalf of their constituents. That they stop listening to special interest groups who did not put them into office but instead, represent the citizens of this nation. We deserve leaders with the fortitude to act in the best interest of the nation as a whole, not bury their heads in the sand and ignore a crisis because they fear political repercussions.

There is no doubt that due to lack of action from our congressional leadership, the word will travel to foreign countries regarding our nation’s current situation. This will only result in an escalation of family units taking advantage of this crisis. The failure of the current strategy will only cause a larger burden and impact on all of our local communities. Communities do not have the financial resources nor the infrastructure to handle this additional burden which will ultimately lead to other ancillary issues. Among these issues are potential increases in crime, victimization of undocumented immigrants, exploitation of juvenile children, and human rights concerns.

Our questions for our elected law makers in Congress are simple ones: What new strategy is being put into place since the current one is failing? Who is engaging these countries of origin and holding them accountable? Who will be tasked with alerting the communities as to the current situation and answering the questions of our citizens?
With respect to answering questions from the citizens, this is often placed on the shoulders of our county Sheriffs. Yet, they are inadequately included in the planning and execution of these very policies. We need a revised plan of action to address this pending crisis, and we need it now.

The vast majority of our citizens are truly frustrated, and disappointed with our national leadership. It is past time that our elected national leaders put aside their partisan positions and focus on what is best for our nation, while maintaining the rights of all people in our country.

As always, Sheriffs welcome a constructive discussion with our national elected officials.

Mark Dannels
President
Arizona Sheriffs Association

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1 https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/usbp-sw-border-apprehensions

2 https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/the-implications-of-the-reinterpretation-of-the-flores-settlement-agreement-for-border-security-and-illegal-immigration-incentives

U.S. Border Patrol Southwest Border Apprehensions by Sector FY2018

Southwest Border Unaccompanied Alien Children (0-17 yr old) Apprehensions

Comparisons below reflect Fiscal Year 2018 (October 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018) compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2017.

Unaccompanied Alien Children by Sector
Sector FYTD2017 FYTD2018 % Change
FYTD17 to FYTD18
Big Bend 712 951 34%
Del Rio 1,275 1,214 -5%
El Centro 1,301 2,465 89%
El Paso 3,665 4,931 35%
Laredo 1,876 2,661 42%
Rio Grande 22,417 21,557 -4%
San Diego 1,383 2,241 62%
Tucson 3,311 4,624 40%
Yuma 2,534 5,060 100%
USBP Southwest Border Total 38,474 45,704 19%

Southwest Border Family Unit* Apprehensions

Comparisons below reflect Fiscal Year 2018 (October 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018) compared to the same time period for Fiscal Year 2017.

Family Unit* Apprehensions by Sector
Sector FYTD2017 FYTD2018 % Change
FYTD17 to FYTD18
Big Bend 872 651 -25%
Del Rio 2,363 2,512 6%
El Centro 1,679 2,898 73%
El Paso 8,323 9,641 16%
Laredo 816 532 -35%
Rio Grande 47,260 54,498 15%
San Diego 2,782 3,604 30%
Tucson 1,907 3,860 102%
Yuma 5,429 12,367 128%
USBP Southwest Border Total 71,431 90,563 27%

 

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