Were getting so many people at one time that were not able to process them fast enough..."
WASHINGTON D.C. (Texas Insider Report) Basically theyre wandering in the United States doing their thing until something happens. Unfortunately thats just the way the system is at this time so its one of the flaws in the immigration system thats currently in place said Border Patrol Agent Hermann Rivera.
He knows first-hand the way the immigration system works.
From September 2018 through April 2019 7724 Orders of Removal were issued. From that group 6764 orders resulted in absentia which is not a surprise to Agent Rivera.
According to the U.S. Department of Justices Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) the agencys pilot program launched to track family unit cases for those crossing the U.S.-Mexico Border illegally found that 87.5 of the families fail to appear in court.
With the Department of Homeland Security having limited resources to house and process the families the Justice Departments EOIR Division created the pilot program to track and expedite family unit cases in 10 Immigration Court locations across the country. The locations include:
- Atlanta
- Baltimore
- Chicago
- Denver
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New Orleans
- New York City and
- San Francisco
During a recent ride along with Rivera to see the problems Border Patrol encounter as the staggering number of illegal immigrants continue to cross the border three family units were encountered in a span of 30 minutes including one that Rivera said they he doesnt see very often.
A lot of times when we encounter these people theyre already walking on the road. So what you saw is that these people just made land fall into the United States" said Rivera.
They were brought across by smugglers and were actually walking through the brush.
Once the migrants turn themselves in or are apprehended they have to be processed which Rivera said is an extensive process.
The processing of illegal immigrants includes them having to provide a physical address which is verified by Border Patrol.
We try to be efficient as we can. But the thing is were getting so many people at one time that were not able to process them fast enough and get rid of them fast enough" said Rivera.
All other facilities including one of the nations largest located in Donna Texas have reached capacity.
Border Patrol estimates that approximately 7000 people are currently in custody with many of them being housed at the McAllen Border Patrol Station.
Rivera said that the immigrants eventually receive information after they are detained for their court hearing which is set up at the closest court to their final destination.
