U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its Family Expedited Removal Management program. The program addresses unauthorized immigration by asylum-seeking families along the U.S. southern border. This expansion supports the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing unlawful immigration.
The program started in May across four cities. It is now expanding to include additional cities in the U.S., per the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement. Per the program, heads of households are required to wear GPS ankle bracelets and follow a nightly curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. These conditions continue until the family’s eligibility for asylum is decided through an alternative to detention program.
While the specific cities for expansion have not yet been specified, the program has already been introduced in 13 cities since its initial launch. It is expected to include 40 cities by September 2023. Recent additions include San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Boston, Providence, New Orleans, and Houston.
Individuals are sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an asylum screening. Families considered ineligible for asylum are required to leave the U.S. within 30 days of enrolling in the program. This Family Expedited Removal Management program was introduced a day prior to the Biden administration’s termination of Title 42, a pandemic-related border restriction allowing quick removal of some migrants.
This initiative is part of the broader strategy by the Biden administration to tackle historic migration and arriving migrants at the southern border. The administration emphasizes consequences for migrants who do not follow authorized “pathways” for entry and has implemented stipulations that curtail eligibility for asylum.
Currently, the administration’s border management policies are facing legal challenges in court. The Ninth Circuit temporarily stopped a district court ruling that limits asylum eligibility. A bench trial has been scheduled for a lawsuit arguing the legality of the parole program.
As of now, the administration’s measures are in effect. Some of these measure include expedited removal under Title 8 immigration procedures, a five-year prohibition on reentry, and the possible legal action for repeated attempts at unauthorized border crossing.
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