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BREAKING: Video reportedly shows heavy gunshots at Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge connecting Texas, United States and Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Biden admin's plan for mass release of migrants into US outlined in internal 2022 memo
The memo outlined how releases would occur in a 'safe, humane and orderly' manner
May 10, 2023.
FIRST ON FOX: A decision to authorize all Border Patrol Sectors to begin "safe" mass releases of migrants to city streets if NGOs are overcapacity will take place in line with a 2022 memo that was uncovered during legal proceedings initiated by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody last year and outlined how to handle releases when Title 42 ends.
Fox News reported on Tuesday that top border officials in Washington D.C. have decided to authorize all Border Patrol Sectors to begin the releases if CBP and NGOs can’t hold migrants. It means that they will be released at bus stops, gas stations, supermarkets and elsewhere.
The decision was made amid a surge of migrants across the border that has hit over 10,000 a day across multiple days this week. NGOs are already approaching their limits on capacity, and those numbers are expected to only get worse in the coming days when Title 42 -- which allows for the rapid expulsion of migrants at the border due to the COVID-19 pandemic -- expires.
The releases are in line with an internal memo published last year in May 2022 by Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz, which outlined guidance for situations when ICE is unable to accept illegal immigrants due to a lack of space and instead, they must be released from custody to prevent overcrowding. The memo says that releases "should be conducted in the vicinity of [NGOs] which are able to provide further services" and that Liaison Officers will work to identify capacity and capabilities for "accepting releases, safe locations and times at which releases may be most appropriate."
The guidance says releases should be done "in a safe, humane, and orderly manner" and also outlines what should happen if NGO space is not available.
"Releases should be made at ‘hubs’ where noncitizens have access to services offered by NGOs, transportation hubs, and/or other safe locations," it says, adding that releases should be tracked by sector.
The memo also outlines factors Border Patrol should consider, including distance, timing, safety, and transportation options.
Ortiz was asked about the memo during a July 28 2022 deposition as part of a lawsuit by Attorney General Moody against DHS.
"It's a memorandum that I signed on May 19th, 2022, and it discusses the non-citizen releases from our custody."
Heavy Gunfire Reported On US Southern Border.