U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Thursday introduced a bill that would prohibit detained illegal aliens from being freely released into the United States without at least receiving a court date.
Due to the surge of migrants at the southwest border and overcrowding at detention facilities, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has started to release migrants, who have illegally entered the country before claiming asylum, without issuing a Notice to Appear (NTA) in immigration court for a hearing. An NTA provides illegal migrants with a date and time certain to appear before an immigration judge and plead their case for asylum.
Tuberville’s legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue an NTA for removal proceedings to any migrant who has illegally entered the U.S. prior to releasing them into the country or granting parole.
A release from Tuberville’s office underscored that releasing illegal migrants from detention without an NTA runs counter to the spirit and letter of the law and erodes the integrity of America’s immigration system. By not providing an NTA, the government loses control over who is being released into the United States and deprives migrants of the opportunity to make legitimate asylum claims before an immigration judge.
The bill further stipulates that a migrant’s parole, deferred action or any other immigration status and associated employment authorization will be terminated if they fail to appear for the subsequent hearing after receiving an NTA.
Senators Ted Crux (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Braun (R-IN) and John Barrasso (R-WY) are original cosponsors of Tuberville’s bill.
“Our facilities at the border are bursting at the seams, and because we’ve simply run out of space, we’re releasing illegal migrants into our country with no real accountability, or date to appear in court,” stated Alabama’s junior senator. “At best, it hurts those who come to this country actually looking to plead their asylum case. At worst, it’s giving free rein into our country for breaking the law.”
“This bill would prohibit migrants who came into the country illegally from being released into communities without a notice to appear in immigration court,” Tuberville concluded. “The Biden administration says they want ‘humane’ and ‘compassionate’ improvements to our immigration system – releasing someone without an NTA is neither. President Biden dismantled the successful policies President Trump put in place, but this bill will help restore integrity in our immigration system.”
This comes as Tuberville on Thursday and Friday joins Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Cruz, and other Republican Senators, on a trip to the southern border. The delegation is visiting McAllen, TX, to speak with CBP officers and see firsthand the processing facilities and ports of entry.
RELATED: Tuberville cosponsors Stopping Border Surges Act
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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