US agency outlines Trump-era immigration practices

By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday released the blueprint for how it will enforce America's immigration laws under President Donald Trump.
In two memos, Secretary John Kelly outlined efforts to crack down on undocumented immigrants, including a ramping up of detentions and potential deportations that sees almost all Obama-era policies rolled back.
The directives greatly expand those who can be deported from the U.S. under "expedited removal" procedures to include those who cannot prove that they have lived continuously in the U.S. for two years. Previously, only those apprehended within 100 miles of the U.S. border and were in the U.S. for less than two weeks were eligible for the practice.
One exception remains, however: undocumented persons who were brought to the country illegally as children will still be afforded leniency as they await a court case on their immigration status. But parents or others who helped bring them to the U.S. could still face criminal proceedings and deportation.
"Regardless of the desires for family reunification, or conditions in other countries, the smuggling or trafficking of alien children is intolerable," Kelly said in one of the memos.
In recent years, the U.S. has seen a dramatic uptick in those attempting to flee violence in the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, including children.
Those countries have been plagued by a spike in gang violence that has ravaged communities.
"The surge of illegal immigration at the southern border has overwhelmed federal agencies and resources and has created a significant national security vulnerability to the United States," Kelly wrote.
U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions -- one metric of illegal immigration -- peaked in 2000. But Kelly pointed to an increase of some 10,000-15,000 apprehensions per month last year compared to 2015, saying they "significantly strained" department resources.
The new directives seem to be in line with more aggressive enforcement seen in recent weeks that have angered immigrant advocates and caused fear in the immigrant community.


-Border wall
Additionally, Kelly said the Department of Customs and Border Patrol will "immediately begin planning, design, construction and maintenance of a wall" along the U.S.' southern border with Mexico.
The barrier has been a major source of tension with Mexico, whom Trump has said will foot the bill for its construction.
The wall is intended to "achieve operational control of the border," Kelly said, noting that it will include lighting, sensors and other technologies as well as patrol and access roads.
Kelly's memos do not address Trump's attempted ban on U.S. entry for residents of seven Muslim-majority countries. The administration is currently re-working that effort after it was dealt a series of legal defeats in U.S. courts.
A new directive is expected some time this week.